WILLIAMSBURG, VA – Burnell Keith Mills, 84, of Williamsburg, VA, formerly of Princeton died Tuesday, July 24, 2012 after a brief illness. Born August 29, 1927 in Pemberton, WV he was the son of the late Tharwell and Celia Ross Mills.

Burnell was a World War II Veteran and worked as an electrician throughout most of his career, starting with 17 1/2 years in the coal mines then moving to Illinois where he worked at Sara Lee Corporation and Curtis Candy. He then moved back to West Virginia and worked at Pepsi until he retired. Burnell recently worked part time at Williamsburg Chrysler, which was a perfect fit for him and his love for cars.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one son, Lloyd Dale Mills; four brothers, Drexel Mills, Oakley Ray Mills, Alva Mills and Clinton Mills and four sisters, Zama Lee Mills, Ima Jo Mills Williams, Anna Glen Mills Farley and Rena Dare Mills Roberts.

Survivors include his wife of over 26 years, Geneva Graham Strouth Mills of Williamsburg, VA; children: Donna Jean Mills Stenlund and husband Neal of Alexandria, VA, Gary Wayne Mills of Wauconda, IL, Mary Ellen Mills Harbut and husband Alan of Roscoe, IL; step-children, Lisa Strouth Tarpley of Ruffin, NC and Tina Strouth Perkins and husband Tim of Williamsburg; grandchildren, Earl Stenlund and wife, Amanda, Amy Stenlund, Bradley Keith Mills, Ryan Mills, Erik Mills, Alyssa Mills, Kristy Shrewsbury, Andy Tarpley, Travis Tarpley, Jonathan Tarpley, Emilee Perkins and Julie Perkins; great granddaughter, Allieana Stenlund; siblings, Mason Mills and wife Carrie of Princeton, Robert Mills and wife Dean of Madisonville, KY, Jackie Mills Harvey and husband Herbert of Lashmeet and Alma Faye Mills Elliott of Rock; daughter-in-law, Kathy White Mills of Island Lake, IL and former daughter-in-law, Patricia Mills of Wauconda, IL; his former wife and mother of his children, Audrey Ford Mills of Wauconda, IL and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2012 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. Orville Harvey officiating. Entombment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton where military honors will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Council and the West Virginia National Guard honor guard. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to your favorite charity.

Friends may visit from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour at Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.

Click here to view a video tribute to Mr. Mills