Melvin R. Miller

Memorial services for Melvin R. Miller, 88, of Davenport, IA will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Cunnick-Collins Mortuary chapel in Davenport. Inurnment will be at the Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, IL. Family will greet friends on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service at the mortuary. Mr. Miller died on July 6, 2010 at Genesis Medical Center – East Rusholme Street, Davenport. Melvin Richard Miller was born in Davenport on April 8, 1922, the son of Arthur and Ellen (Malone) Miller. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946, during World War II. He earned the Soldiers Medal for saving men from a flooding river on the island of New Guinea. Melvin was also included on the inaugural Honor Flight for World War II veterans on November 1, 2008. He married Zola Wolfe on June 6, 1947 in Davenport. Melvin worked at Bendix for 26 years before retiring in 1978. He then went to work at the Rock Island Arsenal until 1984. He was a member of the Elks, Moose, and Plus 60. He was a gentle but strong man whose devotion to his family was his greatest joy, highest priority and proudest accomplishment. We are so grateful to have had such a special man to love and to teach us, through his daily living, how to live our lives with honesty and integrity. He is survived by his Wife: Zola Miller of Davenport; two Daughters: Connie (James) Dodson of Andalusia, IL, Jody (Mark) Bailey of Davenport; three Grandchildren: Stacy (Mitch) Louck of Eldridge, IA, Polly (Brad) Guy of Davenport, Samuel Bailey of Davenport; three Great-grandchildren: Austin and Alexis Louck, Ava Lynn Guy; two Sisters: Dorothy (James) Benes of Davenport, Judy Quals of Davenport. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Hardin, and a brother, Arthur “Buck” Miller. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to be used for a tribute plaque for Ava Lynn Guy or to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Eye Institute.