Birth Date: 08/11/1934
Deceased Date: 08/17/2022
Franklin Delmar McMillen, 88, died August 17, 2022 at the SECU Hospice House of Johnston County in Smithfield, NC.
Frank was born on August 11, 1934 to William Frederick and Ina Elizabeth Osborne McMillen in Two Buttes, Colorado. Upon high school graduation in Prosser, Washington, he enlisted in the military and was accepted into Air Cadet School where he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force.
In 1960, while stationed at Woodbridge Air Force Base, he met and married his wife of 51 years, Pamela Mary Gleave from Ipswich in Suffolk England. Frank went on multiple missions in Vietnam between the years of 1964-68. He and his family were stationed in various locations such as New Mexico, Thailand, Louisiana, Langley AFB, and Shaw AFB in Sumter, South Carolina where he ultimately retired in 1976.
Upon retirement, Frank became an owner and operator of several businesses in Sumter, SC and Durham, NC. He and his beloved wife moved to Chapel Hill and enjoyed their later years spending time with their son and his family.
Frank is survived by his only child, Mark Frank McMillen (Lisa) of Smithfield, NC, his three grandchildren, Mark Frank McMillen Jr (Lauren) of Holly Springs, NC, Alison McMillen Dyer (Joe) of Wilson, NC, and James Carl McMillen of Raleigh, NC, his three great-grandchildren, Mark Frank McMillen III of Holly Springs, NC, and Madelyn James and Natalie Jeane Dyer of Wilson, NC.
He is preceded in death by his wife, parents, and siblings, William Edward McMillen of Connell, Washington and Shirley McMillen Goldsworthy of Yakima, Washington.
The family will receive friends at his son’s home on Tuesday, August 23rd from 6-8 p.m.
A graveside service, with military honors, will be held Wednesday, August 24th at 2:00 p.m. in the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to First Baptist Church, 202 South 4th Street, Smithfield, NC 27577.
