Ruble Lee Mills

March 17, 2013

Technical Sergeant Ruble Lee Mills, retired, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Red Bay Hospital.

He was born in Hamilton on Aug. 16, 1941, the youngest child of David and Nettie Duncan Mills.

Sept. 25, 1965, he married his soul mate and the love of his life, LaVale Kennedy. They lived together for 47 years before his untimely, unexpected death.

He served 38 years in the military, retiring in 1998. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He took great delight in watching his grandson play ball and watching his granddaughter dance. Ruble and LaVale enjoyed relaxing together, taking day trips and watching Western movies. He was a friend to all who knew him, especially those who shouted, ”Roll Tide!”

While Ruble attended Hamilton High School, he was an outstanding athlete, excelling in football. Shortly after his high school graduation he joined the Air Force. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Ruble served eight years in the Air Force, 12 years in the Alabama National Guard and then 18 years in the Army A.G.R. Program.

While LaVale enjoyed a career with Harden Publishing, he became her publicist and business manager. He enjoyed working at the newspapers under the Harden umbrella.

Ruble and LaVale were members of First United Methodist Church, Red Bay, where he served in several capacities.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Shottsville Methodist Church with Rev. Buster Timmons officiating. Burial will be in Shottsville Cemetery with full military honors.

Survivors are his wife, LaVale Mills, Shottsville community; two daughters, Michelle Lee Mills, Hamilton, and Dawn Mills Wilemon and husband, Matt, Red Bay; two grandchildren, Anna Caroline Wilemon and Kennedy Lee Wilemon, both of Red Bay; one brother, Loy Mills and wife, Ann, Palmyra, Mich.; three sisters, Lois Tyree, Brilliant, Louise Norris and Jean McCarley, both of Hamilton; several nieces, nephews and cousins and more friends than can be counted.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Foy Mills, his mother-in-law, Estelle Kennedy and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Pope Mills and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duncan.

Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Loden, Billy Bolton, Daniel Duncan, Doug Emerson, Wayne Wiginton, Chuck Cashion, Keith Ledbetter, Norman Emerson, James Lindsey, Jimmy Hughes, Mike Montgomery, Brad Bolton, Mark Loden and Fred Clanton.

Visitation will be 12-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Shottsville Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Christmas For Kids Clothing Project sponsored by the Red Bay Lions Club.