Obituary of Joe McMillan

Services for Joe W. McMillan, 86, Overton, are scheduled for 2:00 pm, Friday, October 7, at the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home chapel, Overton with the Reverend Ronnie Glover officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Overton City Cemetery. Mr. McMillan died Monday, October 3, at his son's residence in Marshall. He was born February 23, 1925, in Garrison to the late Walter and Flossie Crawford McMillan. He had been a resident of Overton since 1961. He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in Company C of the 7th Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division in the Africa/Italy/France Campaign. He was wounded at the Battle of Anzio and was awarded the Purple Heart. He also received the EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars and a Bronze Arrow. Mr. McMillan was a retired driller and following his retirement, worked as a dispatcher for the Overton Police Department. He also had owned and operated McMillan Texaco and the City Cafe. He was a member of the Rocky Mounty Masonic Lodge #63 Overton, where he was Past Worshipful Master. He was a Shriner and was a member of the Scottish Rite. Mr. McMillan was a charter member of the Bible Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, Bill Blunt and George Crawford Fitzgerald and a sister, Mary Kealthy. Mr. McMillan was the most wonderful man that ever walked the earth. He married Frances Fancher August 5, 1948, in Garrison. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Frances McMillan, Overton; a son and daughter-in-law, Joel Dewayne and Jeannie McMillan, Marshall; two daughters and sons-in-law, Glenda and Alton Mitchell, Sulphur Springs and Gail and Thomas Gipson, Overton; a sister, Ruth Nell Barnhart, Lufkin; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, a great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Grandsons and Great-grandsons, Mark Duncan, Jeremy McMillan, Jared McMillan, Zachery Williamson, Kelly Dunn and Cody Dunn. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 6.