Lillian Snyder Mills

Lillian Snyder Mills, born July 7, 1923 in Chillicothe, Ohio, passed away on June 26, 2013 at her home in Long Beach, following her husband's passing just one month prior. Lillian and Don Mills had been Long Beach residents for almost 60 years.

Mrs. Mills graduated with a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where she was an accomplished pianist, musician and a member of the Delta Omicron Music Sorority. She recorded and performed with various symphonies in Ohio as a soprano soloist and met her husband, Don, while singing in their church choir together. They married on June 11, 1949 in Chillicothe, Ohio.

In the early 1950s, they moved to Southern California for Don to continue his medical education and fellowship at USC County Hospital. Mrs. Mills was a church soloist in Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as teaching music as the Los Angeles County Music Supervisor for the Carmenita School District. They moved to Park Estates in 1962, where they lived for 27 years with their family, and she became active in the Assistance League of Long Beach, Salvation Army Auxiliary and Chapter IG of PEO. She also volunteered at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where she created and directed the Voluntones, a large group of candy striper singers, who performed at the hospital during the holidays for the patients and staff. Lillian was also active in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, performing in various musical productions.

Active in her children's' education at Gant Elementary, Hill Junior High, and Wilson High School, she continued to be involved in the Mother's Clubs of Gamma Phi Beta and Phi Kappa Psi at University of Southern California, where her daughter, Frances, and son, Jon, attended college.

Mrs. Mills was always supportive of her husband as he pursued his practice in the medical legal profession and enjoyed travelling with him domestically and internationally on speaking engagements, as well as for pleasure. She always loved her music and being a loving daughter, mother and grandmother. Dr. and Mrs. Mills attended the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Disney Hall regularly where they were Patrons and had been residents of the International Tower in Long Beach since 1988.

They are survived by their daughter and son, Frances and Jon, their spouses, Philip and Nancy and their grandchildren, Philip III, Julia, Amanda and Kyle.