Merle Mills, 88, Adventist pastor dies from West Nile...

[Stan]

Merle Mills, 88, Adventist pastor dies in Loma Linda

OBITUARY: He spent 14 years in Zimbabwe but succumbed to West Nile virus in Loma Linda.

10:18 AM PDT on Friday, September 10, 2004

By GAIL WESSON / The Press-Enterprise

Merle Mills never caught malaria or any other tropical diseases during more than 14 years as a Seventh-day Adventist Church administrator based in what is now Zimbabwe, but an encounter with a mosquito led to his death in the community where he retired, Loma Linda.

There is no telling where he was bitten, but the retired pastor walked two miles every morning near his Loma Linda home and enjoyed caring for his flower garden, his cousin George Summers said by phone.

Pastor Mills, who spent his adult life as a Seventh-day Adventist leader, died Aug. 23 at Loma Linda University Medical Center from complications of a West Nile infection after spending 3½ weeks in the intensive care unit. He was 88.

While in Africa, he was president of the Trans-Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Pastor Mills traveled thousands of miles by oxcart, bus and four-wheel-drive vehicle. He sometimes lived in primitive conditions, but was careful about what he ate and where he slept, according to his family.

"He was healthy during that whole time," said Don Roth, a retired Seventh-day Adventist administrator who worked for the International General Conference of Adventists headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., at the same time as Pastor Mills. Roth, who lives in Yucaipa, had known Pastor Mills for 50 years, he said by phone.

Born in Cumberland, Md., Pastor Mills and his wife, Elizabeth, split their time between homes in Virginia and Loma Linda, before becoming full-time Loma Linda residents 12 years ago. At the time of his death, the couple planned to move to Nashville, Tenn., where their son lives.

Pastor Mills was a theological graduate of Washington Missionary College in Takoma Park, Md. He began his ministry in Ohio and served congregations in Battle Creek, Mich., and Takoma Park before he became an administrator. "He was a dignified fellow," said Summers. As a young pastor, he wanted to add a little flair to his presentation. "He preached in a tuxedo coat with tails," in Battle Creek, Summers said.

Pastor Mills was a member of the University Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loma Linda.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, his survivors include a son, Myron of Tennessee; a daughter, Margene Castro of Massachusetts; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Marguerite Santini of Loma Linda.

Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Campus Chapel, Loma Linda University. Interment will be in South Lancaster, Mass. Montecito Mortuary in Loma Linda is handling arrangements.