Fred Robert Mills

Fred Robert Mills, age 85, of Fallston, MD, died on February 4, 2009 at Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation in Forest Hill, MD. Born in Bingham, WV, he was the son of the late Charles Wesley and Chloe Jane Hamrick Mills and husband of the late Mildred Elberna Haag Mills. A lifetime resident and farmer in Harford County, he was active with the Maryland Farm Bureau and Federal Land Bank in Harford County. He owned and operated Fallston Airport in Fallston, MD, combining hard work and his passion for flying to establish the airstrip in 1955. He was the recipient of the Maryland Aviation Pioneer Award presented by the Maryland Aviation Administration in 2004. He had worked at Sparrows Point as a welder, often utilized his mechanical and fabrication talents helping friends and neighbors build, repair or modify anything. He especially enjoyed building modified pulling tractors with his family, successfully competing along the East Coast for decades. Mr. Mills also enjoyed nature as well as hunting and fishing.

Mr. Mills is survived by his daughter, Sharon Baxley of Fallston, MD; three grandchildren, Michael Wesley Mills Sr. of Fallston, MD, Robert Arthur Mills of Toowoomba, Australia, and Amy Elizabeth Siler of Street, MD; and seven great-grandchildren, Michael Wesley Mills Jr. and Molly Ann Mills, both of Fallston, MD, Dylan Arthur Mills, Reese Patrick Mills, and Ava Jane Mills, all of Toowoomba, Australia, and Tori Morgan Siler and Kaylee Madison Siler, both of Street, MD. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his son, Gary Walter Mills. Also survived is sister Merna Mehnert of East Norristown, PA and predeceased by brothers Ebert Mills, Gerald "Woody" Mills, Byron Mills, Clyde Mills, John Mills, and sisters Erma Klima and Reba Buchheit.