Gerald Mills

Gerald Alan Mills, 84, of Maumelle passed from this life on February 11, 2021. He was born July 5, 1936 in Haskell, Arkansas to the late Roy and Maurine Atchinson Mills. Mr. Mills graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas A life long student, he enjoyed studying Astronomy and Physics, which he continued doing until the last weeks of his life. His hobbies included camping, sailing, traveling and golf.

Gerald was a highly skilled electronics engineer. Some of his many projects and achievements include assisting with the design and function of the arm of the space shuttle, along with helping to design the optics on the Hubble Space Telescope on which his name is affixed. He was granted two United States patents among other accomplishments for his work for NASA. Mr. Mills also designed and built his own seismograph to detect seismic activity several states away and built his own computer, before it was commonplace.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life, Jewell Yvonne Speights Mills in November 2020 after sixty-five years of marriage. Survivors include daughter, Terri (Ben) Dickinson of Maumelle; son, Greg (Karen) Mills of Cary, North Carolina; grandsons, Justin Stivers, Taylor (Michelle) Mills and Logan Mills (Cindy Blanco). Other survivors include siblings Ron and Alva Mills both of Benton; sister-in-law and dear friend, Lillian Hogue of Benton; along with a host of extended family and friends. His granddog and neighborhood dogs will miss his walks and pockets full of treats.

A private family memorial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials in Gerald’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society .

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.