Nancy Jane Houck was educated Michigan State Normal College.
3 Nancy Houck Mills
MARION - Nancy Houck Mills passed away peacefully at her home in Marion on June 18, 2007.
Born Nancy Jane Houck on March 14, 1922, in Nappanee, Ind., she was the eldest daughter of John Lynn Houck and Charlotte Cool of Ypsilanti, Mich.
Nancy attended Michigan State Normal College where she worked as a laboratory technician in the University Health Services. During her studies she met Dr. Richard Ward Mills Jr., a Northwestern Medical school instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine.
She married Dr. Richard Ward Mills Jr. of Chicago, Ill., the only child of Richard Ward Mills Sr. and Grace Dorothy Brown on Jan. 4, 1950.
They moved to a small apartment at 355 1/2 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, in June of that same year where Dr. Mills joined the partnership at Frederick C. Smith Clinic.
Nancy assisted his private medical practice first on 320 W. Center St. in 1962, and at the new office building on 170 Fairfax Ave. from 1964 until his retirement in 1987. Her commitment brings meaning to the quote: "Behind every successful man is an even stronger women."
Nancy joined the Marion Medical Auxiliary and was president from 1966-1967.
She enjoyed "Ikebana" style flower arranging, interior decoration, swimming, scuba diving, alpine skiing, equestrian sports and was an avid Ohio State Buckeye. She was also a pilot who loved to fly the central Ohio region and cross-country. She made numerous excursions to the British and American Virgin Islands with her husband in the cockpit of their twin engine Beechcraft Baron, the N910 "Tango." She earned her twin-engine pilot's license and was a longtime member of the "Nintey Niners" Women's Pilot organization.
Nancy was a fearless woman with a zest for life that was truly inspiring to those who knew her. She was a remarkable individual who indeed had it all; she lived a wonderful, full life, traveled the world, had a husband who adored her and children who loved her more than words can ever describe. She was known by all as a caring, compassionate individual who instilled her love for nature in her children.
Let it be said of her, that in the end the measure of a woman is not only what she has acquired in life, but what she has given in return. As a loving housewife she nurtured her family and gave of her self without limitations. She gave to the medical profession as the wife of a physician (as only other such wives can possibly understand) and as patient in cancer research. Her gentle nature, grace, beauty and the lifetime of experiences will always be remembered, but her presence will indeed be truly missed.
She was preceded in passing by her husband of 54 years, Dr. Richard Ward Mills Jr. on Feb. 21, 2004, and her brother, Robert Houck, 1998, Ann Arbor, Mich. She is survived by her two sisters, Rachel McCormick, Brighton, Mich., and Dorothy Borgerson, Pendleton, Ore.; and her brother, William Houck, Decatur, Neb.; her daughter, Jennifer Jane Mills, Volcano, Hawaii; and her son, Richard Lynn Mills, and daughter-in-law Hanae Uechi Mills, Honolulu, Hawaii.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests donations be made to the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation in Nancy Houck Mills' name.
Donations may be made by mailing your check or money order to: Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, PO Box 374, Birmingham, MI 48102-0374m, or you may submit your donation online by logging on to www.clfoundation.org/donate/donate.htm
Private memorial services will be held.