Ken Miller's Obituary
Ken Miller died Friday, May 29, 2009, while under the care of Beacon Hospice at Margaret's House in
Longview. He was 86.
Mr. Miller was born May 3, 1923, in Ossining, New York. He volunteered
To fight for the United States during World War II. He was a charter
Member of the 82nd Airborne and earned a Purple Heart for his service
As a paratrooper. He also received the European-African-Middle Eastern
Theater Campaign Medal, Belgium Fourragers Victory Medal, Netherlands
Orange Lanyard and the Croix de Guerre with the Bronze Star from the
French. During the war, his unit was involved in the campaigns at the
Battle of the Bulge, the Invasion of Normandy, Rineland,
Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the bridge crossing at Maas, and others in Central
Europe Mr. Miller was asked to be part of the Honor Guard in Berlin.
General George Patton was so impressed with the group that he said,
"In all of my years in the Army and of all the Honor Guards I've ever
Seen, the 82nd Berlin Honor Guard is the best."
Mr. Miller graduated from the University of Florida in 1948 before
Moving to Texas. He married Diane Canterbury on July 29, 1950. He was
The assistant manager at Rose Bowl Lanes in Tyler before becoming the
Manager at Oil Bowl Lanes in Longview. He taught marketing and sales
Classes at Kilgore College for 21 years, and he never missed a day of
Class. Mr. Miller was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
Particularly in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps take care
Of the poor of all faiths.
Mr. Miller is survived by his wife, Diane; daughter and son-in-law,
Rachelle and Ken Nolley, of Diana; son and daughter-in-law, Charles
And Loida Miller, of Saltillo, Mexico; and grandchildren, Bryan
Gatons, of Kilgore, and Reneé and Kevin Fujii, of Seattle.
A rosary will be prayed at 6 PM , Monday, June 1, 2009 in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. The family will receive friends following the Rosary until 7:30PM. The funeral Mass
Will be held at 10 AM, Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in
Longview. Internment will follow in Rosewood Park.
Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Mary's
Catholic Church, 2108 Ridgewood Drive, Longview, Texas 75605.
What’s your fondest memory of Ken?
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