Robert F. Mills

Robert Mills, age 82 of Elizabeth Borough, Pennsylvania, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. He was born Robert Frederick Mills on June 23, 1943, in Arlington, Virginia, a son of Robert Mortimer Mills and Mary A. (Parizek) Mills.

Robert graduated from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington and served in the US Air Force in the Vietnam War era. While in the military, he served as an Air Traffic Controller and continued that into his early life after the military. Later he worked for the Washington DC Metro as a bus driver. During his time as a Metro bus driver the 9/11 tragedy happened. All vehicle traffic in the DC area was halted, but Robert was in the vicinity of the Pentagon and began making multiple trips into the area and transporting frightened people out of the area to safety. He received recognition for his heroism.

Later in his working life he was a driver of luxury cars. He would drive the cars customers purchased to the distant cities the customers lived in. One of his favorite hobbies was being a collector of “transportation memorabilia” and belonged to many organizations.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Clairton, Pennsylvania, serving as Deacon and singing in the church choir alongside his wife, daughter and granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Patricia Burton. He is survived by his wife, Ardis Kay (Wendelin) Mills; his daughter, Sidra (Jeff) DeRose of South Park, Pennsylvania; two granddaughters, Angela and Bethany; his sister, Shirley (Jack) Bratton; brother, John Mills; the family’s bonus daughter, Krista Barno and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will be received in the Stephen D. Slater Funeral Home 1701 Route 51 Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania 15025 (412-384-0350) www.stephendslater.com on Monday, April 6, 2026, from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 PM. Robert’s funeral service will be in the funeral home on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 12 Noon, followed by burial in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania at 2 PM with US Air Force Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers donations to Fur All Kittys: Cat Rescue, 1824 Homeville Rd. West Mifflin, PA 15122 or a Vietnam Veterans charity of your choice.