FRANCONIA, N.H. - Mr. Samuel Dearborn Mills, 89, passed away on February 25th, 2015, in Franconia, NH. Sam was born on March 22, 1925, in Manila, in the Philippine Islands. He was the son of Captain Samuel P. Mills and Helen D. Mills and spent his early years in the Philippines and at bases where his father was stationed as a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Sam graduated from the St. Johnsbury (VT) Academy in 1943, where he was well known for his skillful whistling. Sam entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as an aviation mechanic in the Pacific theater for 3 years. During a trip home on leave, Sam's sister introduced him to Almamae, the woman who would later become the love of his life and with whom he spent many happy years in Franconia and Winter Haven, FL. Following the war, Sam attended college and started a long career in the sales business, using his contagious sense of humor and sharp mind to become a top salesman. Sam pursued his lifelong love of flying, purchasing an airplane which he often flew to Littleton, NH, landing on a grass strip off River Road. He had many airplanes during his 50+ years of flying and developed great friendships among the pilots at the Winter Haven, FL, twin Mountain, and Whitefield, NH, airports. Sam was a classic car enthusiast and owned dozens of antique cars over the years; his favorites included Studebaker's and Hudson's. Sam and Almamae traveled to many classic car rallies, enjoying the fellowship of fellow enthusiasts and the time spent together. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast, enjoying his time aboard classic BMW's, among others. He was predeceased by his parents and sister Jean Lemire. He is survived by his best friend and long-time love, Almamae Girard of Franconia, his nephew Kevin Lemire of Port Orange, FL, and several great and great-great nephews and nieces. A service will be held at the family gravesite in South Ryegate, VT, sometime following the great winter of '14-'15.