Samuel Dearborn Mills

Mr. Samuel Dearborn Mills, 89, passed away on February 25th in Franconia, NH. Sam was born on March 22, 1925, in Manila, in the Philippine Islands. He was the son of Captain Samuel P. Mills and Helen D. Mills and spent his early years in the Philippines and at bases where his father was stationed as a pilot with the US Army Air Corps. Following the tragic death of his father in an airplane crash in 1936, ironically on Sam's 11th birthday, the family moved to Hilton Village, Virginia, where they spent time with his grandfather, Dr. Ned Dearborn, an accomplished Ornithologist. Sam enjoyed exploring the banks of the James River with his grandfather and worked for a short time at the large shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. In his teen years, Helen moved Sam and his sister Jean to Littleton, where they operated the Silhouette Dress Shop on Main Street. Sam assisted at the shop and Helen and Jean cheerfully greeted customers and friends, often passing out 4 leaf clovers for good luck. Sam graduated from the St. Johnsbury (VT) Academy in 1943, where he worked in the kitchen to help defray his education expenses and was well known for his skillful whistling.

Sam entered the US Army Air Corps, serving as an aviation mechanic in the Pacific Theater for 3 years. During a trip home on leave, Sam's sister introduced him to Almamae, the woman who would later become the love of his life and with whom he spent many happy years in Franconia and Winter Haven, FL. Following the war, Sam attended college and started a long career in the sales business, using his contagious sense of humor and sharp mind to become a top salesman. Sam pursued his lifelong love of flying, purchasing an airplane which he often flew to Littleton, landing on a grass strip off River Road. He had many airplanes during his 50+ years of flying and developed great friendships among the pilots at the Winter Haven, FL, Twin Mountain, and Whitefield, NH airports. Sam was a classic car enthusiast and owned dozens of antique cars over the years; his favorites included Studebaker's and Hudson's. Sam and Almamae travelled to many classic car rallies, enjoying the fellowship of fellow enthusiasts and the time spent together. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast, enjoying his time aboard classic BMW's, among others. He owned a camp at Burns Pond, in Whitefield, NH for over 50 years, where he spent many happy weekends with Almamae or his nephew Kevin, who joined him on many motorcycle rides and airplane flights. Sam was generous with his camp and many of his city friends and their families were able to experience the magic of a New Hampshire summer.

During his final years, Sam often expressed his gratitude for the care and assistance he received from Almamae's daughter Cheryl Ross, her husband Michael, and their family members who helped make it possible for him to live a secure and independent life.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Jean Lemire. He is survived by his best friend and long-time love, Almamae Girard of Franconia, his nephew Kevin Lemire of Port Orange, FL, and several great and great-great nephews and nieces.

SERVICES -- A service will be held at the family gravesite in South Ryegate, VT, sometime following the great winter of 14-15.

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home and Crematorium. For more information, please visit our website at www.pillsburyphaneuf.com.