Robert (Bob) Mills, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away in the early morning hours of June 19, 2015 after six years of failing health and complications from prostate cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born in Park River, North Dakota, January 18, 1928, the youngest of four children of David and Myrtle Mills. At age eight, he moved to Southern California with his mother, older sisters Harriet and Marjorie, in a car driven by his newly licensed 16-year-old brother Mark, to be near their father who was a patient in a local hospital. Bob lost his father at age nine. Bob learned responsibility early, excelled in school, and worked hard to ease the difficulties for his mother. His mother and his high school coach, Frank Williamson, with whom he maintained a lifelong connection, were his greatest influences to his unwavering values.

Bob graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1946 where he was Commissioner General during his senior year. He graduated with a football scholarship to attend the University of Southern California. He majored in petroleum engineering, but in his junior year he joined the United States Air Force for three years and served during the Korean War. He returned to college and completed his degree. Shortly after college he married Josephine Shaw (SPHS '50). They had four children:  Laura, Julie, John, and Anne.

In 1953 Bob began working for Mobil Oil as an engineer in exploration and production. He rose from trainee to top executive positions in a 36-year career that took him around the world. He worked in Tripoli, Libya as Manager of Exploration and Production; in Lagos, Nigeria as Managing Director; and in Jakarta, Indonesia as General Manager Mobil Indonesia before returning to New Orleans, and finally retiring in Dallas, Texas in October 1989. In 1995 his beloved wife, Josephine passed away for a four year battle with cancer. At age 60, Bob took up running for his health, saying running focused his mind and lifted his spirit. He ran his first marathon in San Francisco, at age 62. He went on to complete eight marathons, including New York and Boston.

Bob reconnected with a classmate's older sister, Jane Johnstone Erkenbrecher (SPHS '45). Bob lived in Carmel and Jane had a second home in Carmel and it was there that Bob and Jane's friendship grew. They fell in love and were married in October 1996. They lived in Carmel for a time and then moved to Modesto a couple of years later. Both Bob and Jane's faith in God drew them together. Most recently, Bob had been active at Wellspring Anglican Church and a founder of the Wellspring Foundation. He and his wife, Jane, ministered to the homeless at Modesto Gospel Mission. Bob's love of people and recognition of their dignity and their gifts served him well in his career. His strong ethic for fairness led him to correct disparate pay scales for international employees of different nationalities. He was steadfast in his values, even when superiors encouraged him to go with the flow of business-as-usual. His reputation for integrity followed him throughout his career. His caring and attention to everyone he met, led him to know the names of every employee under his watch, from the cleaning crew up to administration. 

Bob was a gentle man, engaged in life without fanfare, but with curiosity and respect. He made friends wherever he went, whether mingling in a campground or working in a distant country. Bob remained humble throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Josephine Shaw Mills and his son, John. Bob is survived by his wife, Jane Mills, of Modesto, and Bob's three daughters:  Laura Akhavan of Olympia, Washington, Julie (Bill) Oswald of Monterey, California, and Anne Mills of Seattle, Washington; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Modesto Bee, July 5, 2015