ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997 TAG: 9701170056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER
Bob Mills left his mark on the New River Valley. The proof is in the buildings.
Mills, a local architect, died Thursday morning. He was 62.
His tangible legacy includes Blacksburg's Municipal Building, Blacksburg High School, Christiansburg High School and the New River Regional Center for Economic Development at New River Community College.
"Bob was a very loved citizen," said Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth, who knew Mills more than 30 years. "He made his mark as an architect and he was an esteemed citizen associated with projects and enterprises that would benefit the people. He was very involved in the overall fabric of Blacksburg."
Mills is survived by Billie, his wife of 40 years. The couple moved to Blacksburg in 1956 so Mills could study architecture at Virginia Tech. He's also survived by his son, Duane Mills, and his daughters Jennifer Mills and Janice Harr.
Professionally, Mills was honored in 1990 by The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects distinguished service award for his design work and his contributions to architecture.
Mills held all offices in the Blue Ridge chapter of the Virginia Society of the AIA and several on the state level.
He had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic form of the disease, since 1958. The effects severely crippled his body, specifically his hands. Even so, Mills was able to draw designs for the firm up until about five years ago, Billie Mills said. After that, his work included client relations and design oversight.
Mills became a registered architect in the spring of 1965.
That summer he took over the firm he would help grow from a one-man shop to a five-partner, 22-employee firm specializing in architectural, engineering and planning services. The company did work all over the Mid-Atlantic region and in Cuba.
Of his work, Billie Mills said her husband especially enjoyed that he contributed by building spaces that were attractive and functional for society. She said he also just plain enjoyed the stuff, as evidenced by the family's vacations.
"If we were going somewhere that was near one of his project sites, we had to go visit," she said, laughing at the memory. "That was one of the family bugaboos."
Mills was active in civic organizations and community service, including Blacksburg Baptist Church, the Jaycees and the United Way.
The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Blacksburg Baptist Church, 550 N. Main St. Visitation is Friday night, from 7 to 9 p.m., McCoy Funeral Home, 204 S. Main St., Blacksburg.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Millsby CNB