Viola Francis Mills

Viola Francis Mills, 96, of Wilmington, CA, passed away on August 20, 2010, in Lomita, CA. Born July 22, 1914, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Webb and Ola Dugan, she was the first of 4 children. The family moved to Midland, AR, where Viola grew up, married, and raised 4 children, then finally settled in Wilmington, CA, in 1954. An avid sports fan, she especially loved watching Lakers, Dodgers, and UCLA games, Little League, bowling, and tennis. Other favorites included trips to Arkansas, senior bus trips to Laughlin and Las Vegas, NV, reading, and playing video games... crowning achievement - saving the Princess on Super Mario Bros.

Viola was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Tom; son, Daniel; son-in-law, Bill Paulson; granddaughter, Sylvia Stegner; and brothers, Cecil and Daniel Dugan.

She is survived by daughters, Deana Baker (Emmett), of Ft. Smith, AR, and Barbara Paulson, of Lomita, CA; son, John (Emma), of Alexander, AR; sister, Querita Hunt, of Midland, AR; 9 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her beloved dogs, Brittany, Button, and Badger, all rescues. Viola was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be at McConnell Funeral Home, 137 N. Main Street, Greenwood, AR, on Friday, August 27, from 1-9 pm, where family will visit with friends from 6-8 pm. Funeral service will be Saturday, August 28, at 11am, at the Midland Methodist Church, Midland, AR. Burial will follow at Mount Olive Cemetery in Midland.