Robert Andrew Miller (LTC USAF Ret.)

Jan. 04, 1921 - Oct. 10, 2015

Robert A. Miller passed away peacefully at his home at the young age of 94! Born in Detroit on 4 Jan 1921 he was the youngest of three sons (William, Thomas and Robert) of Andrew and Vera (Motherwell) Miller. Robert grew up during the Great Depression and was greatly influenced throughout his life by this tragic era and would remain a frugal man as a result. He joined the Army Air Corp in WW II and was an instructor pilot flying P-38s out of Coffeeville, Kansas promoting long-range cruising techniques as taught by Charles Lindberg. After the war he worked for a short time for Bell Tel Co. in Detroit as an Electrical Engineer before rejoining the U.S. Air Force. He served in Korea and marched with Gen MacArthur as the Air Force Liaison officer and later as C.O. of an island radar base offshore China. He continued his military career and lived the nomadic service life with his family. Based in Detroit at Selfridge A.F. Base, MI, Niagara Falls A.F. Base, N.Y, Ramore A.F. Base Ontario, Canada, Otis A.F. Base Cape Cod Massachusetts during Pres. Kennedy’s era (exciting times), Ramstein A.F. Base Ramstein Germany, and finally at McClellan A.F. Base Sacramento, CA. His last year in California he flew TDY out of Taipei, Taiwan over the Gulf of Tonkin in N. Vietnam in Lockheed Super Constellations EC-121 Radar Picket Airplanes. The same time period, one of his sons flew helicopters for the U.S. Army in S. Vietnam and exchanged war stories of their experiences. Two of his other sons served in the Air Force and the Army respectively. Three generations of U.S. military service, Robert’s father-in-law Cristo Chupich having served with the U.S. Army in WW 1 and was a disabled veteran due to mustard gas exposure. Robert retired from the Air Force in 1969 after having served a cumulative 26 years. He travelled over the Sierra Nevada to the east and settled in Carson City NV where he became a respected part of the business community, eventually owning his own real estate business, Abode Realty, serving the Carson City area where he earned a reputation for his honesty and integrity. He presided over the ritual smokers’ corner, a morning gathering of realtors and contractors with their cigars and cigarettes with his own well-worn Keywoody pipe in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, a stack of donuts and smoke so thick you could cut it with your hand. His retirement was spent sitting in his favorite over stuffed leather chair in front of the fireplace reading his favorite books with pipe close at hand. He was a gentleman in the strictest of terms. One of a generation of gentlemen, who were products of the Great Depression, WW II and Korea. May they live on forever in the memories of the generations to follow! His wife, Mary Bozanna (Chupich) Miller, were married 69 years, preceded him in death in 2010. He is survived by his four sons, David, Christopher, Clayton, Derrick, and, the only daughter in over a hundred years in the Miller family, Denise, as well as his daughter-in-law Fiona and son-in-law John. Nine grandchildren, three step grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The Grand Master of Cribbage will be sorely missed at family card nights! Rest in Peace. There will be a “Celebration of Life”, honoring our Father, on Saturday, October 17, 2015, 3:00pm to 5:00pm at 4 Topaz Dr, Carson City, NV.