Richard G Miller, January 12, 1928 — February 07, 2019

Winter Haven: “Put on your boots, boots, boots, and parachute, chute, chute…” Richard G. Miller, 1st Sergeant, U.S. Army, (Ret. ) made his final jump on 7 February 2019, age 91, and joined his father, Edgil Miller, his mother, Virginia Miller, and his sister, Loretta Harvey, who were waiting with open arms for his arrival in heaven. Born in 1928 in the small coal mining town of Adrian, WV, he grew up in Cassity, WV, and supported the family by working as a coal miner while his father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He joined the army in 1947 and after tours in Germany and Ft. Hood, TX, served his remaining career in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC.

He served in Korea, and saw action in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during the Dominican Civil War. He met his future wife, Ernestine Hathaway, when his sister, Loretta, invited her over one night for a sleep over. The two teenage girls were giggling in the room next door and Richard, trying to get some sleep before going to work in the coal mines the next day, banged on the wall and hollered: “Shut up in there, I gotta go to work tomorrow!

” The two married in December 1950 and had recently celebrated 68 happy years together before his passing. In later years, he worked for the Department of Defense as a security guard at Sunny Point, NC. Both he and Ernestine retired from Civil Service and moved to the Sunshine State to escape the cold.

Richard was a deeply devoted family man, devout Christian, and fiercely proud veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division. He never left home without wearing his 82nd Airborne Division ballcap with jump wings pinned in front and tried to recruit everyone who passed his way. He often quoted General Douglas MacArthur’s famous phrase, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away”.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Lake Alfred, FL, and a member of the Fort Bragg Masonic Lodge #667. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Ernestine, brother, Robert, sisters Lavera, Lois, and Edna (Butch) Waldron, daughter Cynthia (Danny) Morton, and sons Richard W. (Coralie) Miller and David (LaWanna) Miller, 6 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be scheduled later.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org) or the American Diabetes Association (www. diabetes.org). To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Richard G. Miller please visit our Sympathy Store.

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