Macomb Jurist, Aviator Don Miller Dies Donald G. Miller, who served his state and nation as a judge and an Air Force officer, died Jan. 18, 2019. He was 80 years old.
Well known in aviation and legal circuits, Miller was the husband of Candice S. Miller, the former member of Congress who now serves as the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner. Don Miller served as a Macomb County Circuit Court Judge from 1998 until his retirement in 2010. Miller became a judge after having served for seven years as a magistrate on the state Worker’s Compensation Appellate Commission.
Miller was born June 17, 1938, in Grand Rapids. He had a life-long fascination with aviation, often drawing World War II-era fighter planes on his schoolwork in elementary school. He began flying at age 16 in a Piper J-3 Cub and earned his private pilot’s license at age 17.
He attended Michigan State University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and then was commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1961, initially trained as a pilot of the F-102 Delta Dagger and later transitioning to the F-100 Super Sabre. Miller’s distinguished military career included service in Vietnam, flying with the 509th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, where he flew combat missions from Da Nang and Tan Son Nhut Air Bases, during the Vietnam War. Following his service in Vietnam, Miller continued his service in the Michigan Air National Guard.
He finished his military career at the rank of colonel after serving as the commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and as director of operations for the 127th Tactical Fighter Wing at the base. It was while serving as the commander of Selfridge, in Harrison Township, that he married the then-Harrison Township supervisor. Don and Candice Miller were married for 35 years and continued to live in Harrison Township throughout their marriage.
Miller retired from the military in 1988 to enter the legal profession. Even after his retirement as a military pilot, Miller continue to fly, building and piloting his own aircraft. He and his home-built RV-8 were well known at Ray Community Airport and many other locations.
Funeral arrangements by Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road (3 blocks east of Van Dyke), Utica. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Selfridge Military Air Museum, 27333 C Street, Bldg 1011, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
, 48045; or the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154, 18025 E. 15 Mile Road, Clinton Township, Mich. , 48035. Please share a memory with his family at www.
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