Edward Earl Mills' Obituary
Edward Earl Mills passed away peacefully at his home on January 8, 2026. Born in Culpeper on February 26, 1945, to the late Margaret and Harry Mills, Earl was a beloved husband, father, brother, friend and coach.
A 1963 graduate of Culpeper County High School, Earl was a standout multi-sport athlete. Following graduation, he served in the Marine Corps Reserves and began a dedicated career with C&P Telephone/Verizon that spanned over 40 years. Earl was a member of the Culpeper United Methodist Church.
Earl never met a stranger and was known for his "tall" tales and infectious sense of humor. An avid sports fan, he loved the Yankees, the Wahoos, and Geno Auriemma. If he wasn’t at work, you could find him at the little league fields where he spent countless hours volunteering and coaching baseball, football, and his true passion of softball. Earl’s coaching led to numerous successes, including two state championships as well as success at Rappahannock and Culpeper County High Schools. Like him, his practices were hard and tough, but in the end his players loved him for it. We are blessed to hear from numerous former players about how much Earl meant to them. After retiring from coaching, Earl could still be found at the fields watching his grandsons, who affectionately called him Doe Doe.
In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his brothers, Charlie and Donnie; his sister, Lee; and his son-in-law, Lloyd.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; their three children, Chrissie, Steve (Melissa), and Erin (Jason); four grandsons, Eddie, Jackson, Ryan, and Jacob; brothers, Billy and Lester; sisters, Hazel, Audrey, and Ann; and many nieces and nephews.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to the nurses and staff of Hospice of the Piedmont for their compassionate care.
A casual celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, January 13th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Highland Ridge Farm, 11192 North Highlands Path, Culpeper, VA. Please contact Kim Jefferson or Pam for further information.
A service of remembrance will be held on Wednesday, January 14th, at 1:00PM at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA, with Sandy Martin officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private interment will follow at the family cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Steve Mills, Eddie Gimbel, Jackson Gimbel, Ryan Gimbel, Jacob Mills, Winston Christian, Lonnie Myers, and Tom Cuccherini. Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Joiner, Jason Bailey, Ryan Bailey and Jeremy Bailey.
The family requests that you donate a tree, outdoor flower, or plant in Earl’s honor for his memorial garden. These can be sent to Found and Sons Funeral Chapel or the family’s home. Kim Jefferson at Windmill Heights Garden Center (540-825-2059) is accepting orders for a specific plant or tree, or monetary donations for the family to select something for the memorial.
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