Laurence A. Mills of Granada Hills
Laurence “Larry” Mills, 73, went home to Heaven with his devoted wife and daughter by his side on February 20, 2019.
Larry was born in 1945 in Long Beach, CA, the only child of William and Dorothy (Sorman) Mills. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and immediately started as a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand.
He was married to Virginia “Ginny” McFarland in 1973. That same year, Coopers & Lybrand honored Larry by accepting him into their International Exchange Program in their Toronto office. Larry and Ginny lived there for two years and added their only daughter, Michelle, during their stay.
In 1975, they returned to the Coopers & Lybrand Los Angeles office. In 1978, he co-founded Freeman & Mills with Neill Freeman. Larry added his accounting and financial expertise to some of the most significant high stakes litigation of the late twentieth century. Among his many engagements, Larry was the finance and accounting aide-de-camp to former Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach. Freeman & Mills is now one of the most respected and experienced litigation consulting firms in the U.S. Larry partially retired from Freeman & Mills in 2008, but remained as acting president until his death. Larry was widely respected as a forensic accountant and consultant to public and private companies in a variety of industries.
Larry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ginny; daughter Michelle (husband, Scott Pilch), and granddaughters Alexandra "Allie" and Julia Pilch. He will be sorely missed for being a loving, patient and generous husband, father and grandfather.
Larry relished spending time with his granddaughters and never missed a game, recital or play. He was a mentor and role model to many professionally and personally. He treated everyone he met with kindness, respect, and gentleness. He was known for his brilliant mind, dry sense of humor, sarcastic wit, and humility. He was endlessly logical and practical, an unshakeable stoic.
Larry enjoyed baseball, basketball and golf; he was an airplane and car enthusiast. A lifelong traveler, he once traveled through Europe on a motorcycle. He appreciated puzzles, games and was a history buff. He enjoyed the company of dogs, and had a soft spot for Golden Retrievers.
Larry was loved and will be missed by all who were fortunate to know him.
Larry’s Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 23rd at Shepherd Church located at 19700 Rinaldi Street in Porter Ranch. Reception to follow.