Clyde D. “Red” Mills, Jr., age 97, of Butler, passed away Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Born Nov. 4, 1926, in Kittanning, he was a son of the late Clyde D. Mills, Sr., and Margaret Krautbauer Mills.
The Mills family later moved to Butler, where Red, who was given that nickname because of his red hair, excelled at athletics, especially baseball.
He played baseball, softball, and basketball in the Butler Cubs organization, making numerous lifelong friends. As a youth, Red spent many hours at Pullman Park, either playing baseball or watching the Butler Yankees minor league games. His buddies gave him another nickname, “Gus”, because he was a slick fielder who reminded them of a Butler Yankees player.
His co-workers at the Hot Dog Shop also called him “Gus”. Red/Gus worked at the iconic Butler restaurant in his high school days. He would go to Butler High School, which at that time was the red brick building on East North Street, in the morning, dash to the nearby Hot Dog Shop at lunchtime to help with the restaurant’s lunch rush, hustle back to school for afternoon classes, then return to the Hot Dog Shop to work the evening shift. Despite working many hours at his job, Red/Gus was an excellent student who was well-liked by his classmates. A listing in the student publication “The Magnet” called him “…a talkative red head”.
The best thing that happened to Red during his days working at the Hot Dog Shop was meeting a beautiful young woman and the love of his life, Jacqueline DellaSanta, who was employed at a nearby record store. Jackie, who was gifted with a beautiful singing voice, went on to New York and achieved a professional music career, which she gave up when she and Red married in 1954.
With World War II raging, Red enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his assignment to Japan at the time of the surrender, he served in the honor guard for General Douglas MacArthur.
Red was a Division Accounting Supervisor for West Penn Power. He retired with more than 41 years of service. While there, his co-workers gave him yet another nickname, “Cledo”.
He enjoyed going to hunting camp with still more friends over the years.
In retirement, he spent mornings with friends, hanging out and having coffee at the Butler Farm Market.
Red was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher.
He belonged to American Legion Post 778 and VFW Post 249.
He is survived by two sons, Douglas J. Mills and his wife, Deborah, of Cumming, Ga., and Roger M. Mills, of Cranberry Township; two brothers, William “Herman” Mills, of Harlington, Texas, and Kenneth “Butch” Mills, of West Chester, Pa.; one sister, Phyllis “Toots” Stirling, of Butler; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline E. DellaSanta Mills, who passed away Feb. 21, 2001; and two brothers.
There will be no visitation.
Services will be held on Friday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m. at Martin Funeral Home, 429 Center Ave., Butler, with Rev. Sang Hak Lee, assistant pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating.
Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by American Legion Post 778, VFW Post 249, and VFW Post 499.
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