Ralph Robert Mills
January 2, 1902 — August 17, 2007
Ralph Robert Mills, 105, of the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar, Iowa, and formerly of Marion, died Friday, August 17, 2007, following a short illness. A memorial service for Ralph will take place at the Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, on August 25, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, with a luncheon to follow.
Ralph was born January 2, 1902, to Dr. Ernest and Anna (Burgess) Mills in LeGrand, Iowa. His growing up years were spent in LeGrand with eight siblings. Upon graduation from LeGrand High School in 1920, he spent the summer at his Aunt Nellie’s ranch in Idaho working as a cowhand. That fall, he enrolled in Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. There he met his sweetheart and future wife, Ruth Northrup. In 1924, he graduated from college with a degree in economics intending to teach. He landed his first job with a survey crew for the Iowa Highway Department. Before long, he had his civil engineering certificate. With steady work, he and Ruth were married in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1926. With the Highway Department, the Mills moved frequently, going from Grinnell, to DesMoines, to Ames, and then to Adel, Iowa. A daughter, Rosamond Joy, came along in 1930. Through her growing up years, they lived in Adel. With World War II, money for highways dried up. Ralph then enlisted in the Navy doing engineering work in the United States. The ending of the war brought a couple of years working on the Alaskan Highway. With the completion of that job, he found work with the Milwaukee Railroad. That job moved to Marion, Iowa, and with Rose in college, Ralph and Ruth moved to Marion in 1950. Shortly afterwards, Ralph became the City Engineer for Marion while Ruth was librarian at the Carnegie Library there. Ralph was active with Kiwanis and the Masonic Lodge, #6, AF & AM. At 68, he retired from his work and took up his new hobby, golf. From 1972 until 2001, at the age of 99, when he was forced to quit, he shot 375,838 strokes, 7,297 rounds and walked 12,764 miles playing golf, not counting miles spent looking for lost golf balls. Ruth passed away in 1993. Ralph became an enthusiastic member of the Cedar Rapids Widow & Widowers group. He also made many friends walking in Lindale Mall. He eventually moved to Garnett Place in Cedar Rapids, enjoying bingo and social activities. In 2005, needing more assistance, he moved into the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa. There he developed a reputation as a cribbage player, playing in local tournaments until laid up with a broken hip and collar bone in June, 2007.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, daughter, Rose, and seven out of eight siblings. He is survived by his son-in-law, Byron R. Ross of Iowa City, Iowa. He has three grandsons, Kelly (Glenda) Ross of Osage, Iowa, Scott (Roberta) Ross of Monument, Colorado, and Mitchell (Gina) Ross of Pasadena, Maryland. There are eight great-grandchildren; Benjamin, Elisabeth, Rebecca, Kaleb, Jaqueline, Adam, Marcus, and Michael who will miss him.
Any memorials may be directed to the Marion Public Library, 1095 6th Street, Marion, Iowa, 52302.
Ralph was born January 2, 1902, to Dr. Ernest and Anna (Burgess) Mills in LeGrand, Iowa. His growing up years were spent in LeGrand with eight siblings. Upon graduation from LeGrand High School in 1920, he spent the summer at his Aunt Nellie’s ranch in Idaho working as a cowhand. That fall, he enrolled in Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. There he met his sweetheart and future wife, Ruth Northrup. In 1924, he graduated from college with a degree in economics intending to teach. He landed his first job with a survey crew for the Iowa Highway Department. Before long, he had his civil engineering certificate. With steady work, he and Ruth were married in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1926. With the Highway Department, the Mills moved frequently, going from Grinnell, to DesMoines, to Ames, and then to Adel, Iowa. A daughter, Rosamond Joy, came along in 1930. Through her growing up years, they lived in Adel. With World War II, money for highways dried up. Ralph then enlisted in the Navy doing engineering work in the United States. The ending of the war brought a couple of years working on the Alaskan Highway. With the completion of that job, he found work with the Milwaukee Railroad. That job moved to Marion, Iowa, and with Rose in college, Ralph and Ruth moved to Marion in 1950. Shortly afterwards, Ralph became the City Engineer for Marion while Ruth was librarian at the Carnegie Library there. Ralph was active with Kiwanis and the Masonic Lodge, #6, AF & AM. At 68, he retired from his work and took up his new hobby, golf. From 1972 until 2001, at the age of 99, when he was forced to quit, he shot 375,838 strokes, 7,297 rounds and walked 12,764 miles playing golf, not counting miles spent looking for lost golf balls. Ruth passed away in 1993. Ralph became an enthusiastic member of the Cedar Rapids Widow & Widowers group. He also made many friends walking in Lindale Mall. He eventually moved to Garnett Place in Cedar Rapids, enjoying bingo and social activities. In 2005, needing more assistance, he moved into the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa. There he developed a reputation as a cribbage player, playing in local tournaments until laid up with a broken hip and collar bone in June, 2007.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, daughter, Rose, and seven out of eight siblings. He is survived by his son-in-law, Byron R. Ross of Iowa City, Iowa. He has three grandsons, Kelly (Glenda) Ross of Osage, Iowa, Scott (Roberta) Ross of Monument, Colorado, and Mitchell (Gina) Ross of Pasadena, Maryland. There are eight great-grandchildren; Benjamin, Elisabeth, Rebecca, Kaleb, Jaqueline, Adam, Marcus, and Michael who will miss him.
Any memorials may be directed to the Marion Public Library, 1095 6th Street, Marion, Iowa, 52302.
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