Joe Luby Mills, III

Joe Luby Mills, III, age 67, was born the youngest of four children to Joe Luby Mills, Jr. and Faustine Coleman Mills. "Joe Mills from Pine Hills", as he often called himself grew up on Pine Hills Rd, in Orlando and attended Mollie Ray Elementary and Maynard Evans High School from seventh to 12th grade.  He completed one year at Seminole Community College before enlisting in the Army in 1971.  Joe did his Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA before shipping out to South Korea where he spent 13 months.  After receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1973, Joe joined the "family business" and became a Pipefitter/Welder.  He traveled all over the country with his trade, even living in Alaska for two years where he worked on commercial projects in and around Fairbanks.

Joe met Sarah in the summer of 1982 when he went to pick up Sarah's friend, Leah, for a date.  Leah wasn't ready yet, and Joe and Sarah enjoyed a friendly banter.  Three and a half years later, they were married on December 7, 1985.

Joe started Clermont Aluminum with his lifelong friend and business partner, Clarence Schaffer, in the early 1980's.

Joe and Sarah's first child, Micah, was born in December  of 1987.  There was nothing Joe loved more than being a dad. Jared followed soon after in 1989.  Wanting a more steady occupation with benefits for his family, Joe left Clermont Aluminum and began working for Walt Disney World as a natural gas tech at Reedy Creek Energy Services after Jared was born.  Emily and Jesse soon followed, and the family was complete.

Joe eventually retired from Disney and served as an organizer for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union/Local 803 before taking the position of Director of Building Trades for the AFL-CIO on Disney property.  This was his last job before retiring.

Joe was very active in his church where he served as a deacon for several years and attended church visitation regularly.  He loved "knocking on doors" and telling people about Jesus.  Before being diagnosed with ALS in April 2015, Joe spent many hours every weekend helping with Clermont Central Church and Kirkman Community Church, two church plants of First Baptist Church of Central FL.

Joe passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 19, 2018 surrounded by family and friends.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Sarah; his children, Micah, Jared, Emily, and Jesse; his brother Bobby and his sister, Linda.  Preceding him in death are his parents and sister, Judy.

When entering Heaven and meeting his saviour, we're sure he heard, "Well done, good and faithful servant..."

The family will be receiving friends at Church at the Cross, located at 700 Good Homes Road in Orlando, from 2:00 until 3:00 pm, followed by the funeral service on Saturday, February 3, 2018. The family has stated that Joe's favorite color was red.  Feel free to wear red in Joe's honor.   Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.  

Donations in Joe's memory may be made to:

 Fisher House at James A. Haley VA Hospital

13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33612

Make checks payable to Fisher House

or

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry at:

www.flbaptist.org/give