Carlton Robert Mills

Carlton Robert Mills, age 79, died of pancreatic cancer in the home of his son in Urbana on March 15, 2022.

He began his education in a one-room school house in Hanover, IL, and graduated from Hanover high school in 1960. He then attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1967. Carlton was an innovator at heart and loved being at the forefront of new projects. As such, his career path reflected that sense of adventure. As a senior, he worked on a computer programing project to guide a tractor in the field. At that point he realized he liked computers better than tractors or fields!

He spent his decades-long career at the cutting edge of software engineering where he worked with numerous types of hardware and software: starting with the vacuum tube-based IBM 650, Fortran with punch cards, Algol (he was a life-long devotee), Haskell (he was a leading expert), OS system programmer on the ILLIAC IV supercomputer (at the time the most powerful computer in the world), and, long after retirement, he kept abreast of tech advances and "talked shop" with young professionals. In the 1980s, he created an online database as part of a start-up using an ADA compiler and X.25 communications software on Unisys hardware. He was possibly the last programmer to have implemented a Bisync communications package (in C) and his work was implemented worldwide for Visa International, the Japanese banking system, and several New York brokerage firms. He was a leader in developing networking so that large and small computers could communicate with each other. Some companies he worked for include Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Army Corps of Engineers, and GCOM.

Carlton met Joan Andrews at a meeting of new Bahs in Urbana in 1963. They had very different backgrounds but they built a life together striving to respect their diversity. She said that the difference in their race (she is African-American) was less to overcome than the difference in his rural and her urban upbringing!

He loved Bahu'llh and His message of equality and unity of humanity. He strove to improve his ability to serve through life-long learning and attention to the pressing needs of humanity. His quirky humor about life and his righteous anger at injustice and cruelty in the world will be especially missed. Carlton served the Bah community for decades as Treasurer of the Local Spiritual Assembly. After retirement, he went daily to the Bah Center as if he were going to work. If anyone happened by, he was there to answer questions. He knew what was happening there and what needed to be done. A committee was needed to replace him. He also served as a Sunday School teacher for many age groups, including preschool.

Carlton lived to be of service to all. Hes the one youd call if your car broke down and you were strandednot to fix anything, but to rescue you. Hed even come over to trap a mouse in your kitchen in the middle of the night. He loved to drive and if a friend or family member needed a rideeven hundreds of mileshed take them. He liked driving & talking to people so much that he worked as an Uber driver for several years.

Carlton was born 16 July 1942 in Elizabeth, IL to Robert Isaac Mills and Charlotte (McKinley) Mills, the first of 10 children. As the oldest in a big family he learned that soothing a baby was immensely useful and important, and he became very good at it. He delighted in babies and little ones and loved playing with them.

Carlton was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren. He reveled in their achievements and loved to share their stories.

Carlton is survived by Joan (Andrews), wife of over 57 years, and his adult children Kathryn (Bernal), Rana, Robert, and Shaun (Monica), 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by 2 of his brothers, Richard and James, and survived by Peter, Douglas, Andrew, Susan, Jane, Debra, and Phillip, his younger siblings, as well as their many children and grandchildren.

Graveside Service - Sunday March 20 - 1:00 at Eastlawn Burial Park, 802 N Cunningham, Urbana

Celebration of Life - Monday March 21 - Noon to 4:30 at the Urbana Bahai Center, 807 E Green, Urbana