Orville Walter Mills Jr.

Orville Walter Mills, Jr., 85, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 14, 2023. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, to Orville and Lottie Mills, he grew up a pastor’s son, moving to many small towns throughout Oklahoma. He moved to Waxahachie, Texas, to attend high school at Southwestern Bible Institute. During his time there, he met the woman he described as “the prettiest girl in the world,” Jewel Page. They were married on July 27, 1956. From Waxahachie, they traveled to Oklahoma in order for him to attend the University of Oklahoma.

He began his career with Humble Oil in 1959 in Houston. Throughout his career with Humble/Exxon, Orville was transferred to many new places around the world. He loved every place he lived and cherished the friendships he made along the way. He also served faithfully as a supporter and board member for Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He loved the university, and one of his proudest accomplishments was making sure he hired Evangel graduates to work for him at Exxon.

Orville was a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. In addition to his 40-year career at Exxon, he served as President of the Houston Chapter of Financial Executives Institute, Chairman of the Board for the Institute of Internal Auditors, and was appointed by Governor Rick Perry as a member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Family was always most important to Orville, and he provided a loving and godly legacy for them all. He is survived by his younger brother, Joe; his daughters Vicki Marks and her husband Karl; Karen Walters and her husband Jake; Julie Davis and her husband Carl; his grandchildren Mason, Joel and his wife Abby, Reed, Hannah, and Elizabeth and her husband Ricky; and his great-granddaughters Frances, Retta, and Margaret Mills Walters. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy Freeman, his brother Robert, and his loving wife Jewel.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston. Visitation is Monday evening, July 24, from 6:00-8:00. Funeral services are Tuesday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. with graveside immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Jewel Mills Legacy Business Endowment, Evangel University, 1111 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO, 65802.