Richard E. "Dick" Miller

Richard E. “Dick” Miller, Jr., 95 of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 surrounded by family.  He was born at home in Ellis County, Oklahoma on May 21, 1922 to Richard E. Miller Sr. and Jennie (Glasgow) Miller. Dick was a 1940 graduate of Arnett (OK) High School and served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1942- 1945, primarily as an electrician aboard the U.S.S. Appalachian.  He continued his military service in the USNR, with 38 years of service to his country, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.

While training to be a Navy electrician, he met the love of his life, Nina Sturgell, in Morehead, Kentucky.  Dick and Nina were married April 28, 1946 in New Castle, Indiana.  They had two children, Stephen Richard and Jean Ann (Bang.)  In 1954 Richard built a home with the help of family and friends and the family moved to Indianapolis where the children grew up.  Dick worked for Western Electric and other Bell companies, retiring with 32 years of service.

In the early 1970s Dick and Nina started square dancing and “never looked back.”  They square danced in nearly 40 states.  They met many wonderful people near home and as they travelled.  Dick’s “happy place” was behind the windshield.  He and Nina loved to travel by car and the family had visited 48 states by 1958.  They even drove to Alaska in 1964.

Dick volunteered with the Telephone Pioneers for 17 years, first repairing “talking book” players and then “Toys of Love.”  Dick was a 50 year member of  New Castle Masonic Lodge 91.  He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, (finally) great-grandfather, neighbor and friend.

Dick is preceded in death by his wife Nina, parents Dick and Jennie Miller, sisters Loree Shultz and Lela Mae Vincent, and brothers, Roy, Kay, Luther, Max and Sam Miller and granddaughter Jennifer Bang.  He is survived by his son Steve (Lana) Miller and daughter Jean (Jim) Bang, brother, Ronald Miller, grandchildren Andy (Britney) Bang, Lauren (Gordon) Pearce, Emily Bang and Ian Miller, great-granddaughter Emma Rose Bang and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2017 at 3pm at Flanner and Buchanan – Washington Park East.  Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service.  A graveside service with military honors will take place on Monday, January 8, 2017 at 11 am in Washington Park East Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.  To leave online condolences, friends are invited to www.flannerbuchanan.com.