William Carlisle "Carl" Mills

HENDERSONVILLE, NC:Dr. William Carlisle “Carl” Mills, 83,died Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Presbyterian Community in Lexington, SC.The funeral service will be 11:00 AM Monday, January 19, 2015 at Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Blackstock, SC with Rev. Rhett Carson, of Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Flat Rock, NC officiating.The interment will follow in the church cemetery.The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall of Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.Pallbearers will be Aubrey McSwain, Tim McSwain, Tommy Mills, Mark Howard, Jeffrey Williamson, Todd Williamson and Doug Mills. Born December 24, 1931 in Fairfield County, SC, Dr. Mills was a son of the late Edward McDaniel Mills and Annie Hooks Mills.He graduated from Blackstock High School in 1951. About one year after graduation, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC and special training in radio communication at Fort Knox, KY, he was sent to South Korea for the remainder of his two-year active service.He served the remainder of his military obligation in the Army Reserves in the States as Sergeant First Class.After a few months out of active duty, he enrolled in Clemson College receiving a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees in Agricultural Engineering.He began his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in South Carolina.He later transferred to Agricultural Research Service of USDA, locating in Florida and Georgia.He then went to a Research Center in Tucson, Arizona, where he earned a PhD from the University of Arizona in Hydrology and Systems Engineering.He then returned back to Athens, Georgia and later moved to Tifton, GA where he finished his career, retiring in 1995.After his retirement from the USDA, he moved to Hendersonville, NC and taught at Blue Ridge Community College for several semesters in the Math Department.He also became an active member of Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Flat Rock, NC, where he served as an Elder, Clerk of The Session, member of the choir, Sunday School teacher and had various other responsibilities.He also was a member of the Lions Club.He made many friends at his church, Lions Club and his neighborhood. Dr. Mills is survived by two sisters, Peggy M. Howard of Lexington, SC, and Sara M. Williamson of West Columbia, SC: two brothers, Edward H. Mills and his wife Frances of Blackstock, SC and Joe D. Mills and his wife Sara of Lexington, SC and a number of nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Anne McSwain and Jimmie Mills; a niece, Malynda Mills Grimsley and a nephew, Weldon Williamson. Memorials may be made to Pinecrest ARP Church, PO Box 421, Flat Rock, NC 28731 or to Hopewell ARP Church, 1391 Hopewell Church Road, Blackstock, SC 29014 or to a charity of one’s choice. Barron Funeral Home, 133 Wylie Street, Chester, SC 29706 is serving the family.