Alan E. Mills, longtime farmer, school bus contractor

Alan E. Mills, 68, of Milford, passed away suddenly at home Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. He was born Aug. 10, 1957, to the late L. Edgar and Betty (Reynolds) Mills.

Alan was a 1975 graduate of Milford High School, where he enjoyed FFA and band. This is where he met his high school sweetheart, Arenath Tuttle Mills. They were married in 1979.

Alan enjoyed farming with his dad at a young age. His father would strap him to the fender and tell him to hold on. He grew up loving the land and farming with his father, who was his best friend. Later he continued to farm with his sons, Mark and Brett. He was a grower for Perdue for 37 years. He was a true farmer till he passed. He never thought of it as work, but as something he really enjoyed doing. Alan never met a stranger and had the gift of gab. He enjoyed being with his family, especially his grandson, Mateo. He loved his family unconditionally.

Alan was also a bus contractor as well as a driver for Milford and Sussex-Tech school districts. He drove a bus from the age of 18, and the kids always loved him as well as his love of the kids.

He was a member of the Cedarfield Ruritan Club and Sussex County Farm Bureau. He was the current president of Milford Grain Co., which he took very seriously and wanted to see grow and do well.

Alan is preceded in death by his parents L. Edgar Mills Jr., and Betty Reynolds Mills.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Arenath (Tuttle) Mills; his children, Mark Mills and Brett (Brenda) Mills; his grandson, Mateo; his aunts, Janet Yerkes and Ruth Anne Willey; his siblings-in-law, Lynne (Phil) Strassle, Gary (Penny) Tuttle and Dwayne (Michele) Tuttle; his nephews, Kyle, Josh, Michael and Blake; and his cousin, Dennis Mills, whom he considers a brother; and several cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St. Milford. A time of visitation will precede the funeral from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Alan's memory can be made to the Sussex County Farm Bureau, 3457 S. DuPont Hwy., Camden, DE 19934.

Arrangements are in the care of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford.