Richard H. Milliken

We lost our husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend January 9 2017. Richard was born in 1924 in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. His love of the Mexican people and language stayed with him all his life. He and his family moved to the United States when Mexico expropriated the family business. Richard took his first job to help his family at the age of fourteen.

He served in the South Pacific with the Navy during WWII. In 1946 he moved to El Paso. He imported lumber from Mexico and New Mexico for building homes for Servicemen returning to civilian life. His vision was far ahead of his time when he opened Milliken Lumber on Alameda Street. Besides selling lumber, the business focused on the Do-It-Yourself customer, long before it became a national fad. He continued building both tract and custom homes, apartments and strip shopping centers. He enjoyed his work and missed only two days at the end of his life.

He served on the El Paso Building Board of Exceptions and Revisions for two consecutive terms. He was chosen President of the El Paso Lumbermen’s Association. He was a member of the El Paso Home Builders Association. He was a member of the Rotary Club and Junior Chamber of Commerce. Richard was a fifty year member of Masonic Lodge #130, the Scottish Rite and the El Maida Shrine.

In 1966 he took a leave of absence to serve as supervisor for Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in the construction of buildings in Thailand for the U.S. Coast guard to house Loran tracking equipment and Coast Guard personnel.

He married Patricia Dillman in 1967. Their 50th Anniversary would have been in February 24.

Around that same time he changed the focus of his business to damage restoration for the insurance industry. He formulated a system for estimating damage repair long before computers and software made the standards industry-wide. He was ahead of his time again. He served as mediator for the Better Business Bureau Care program.

Richard was very athletic. He exercised and played handball at the YMCA. When racquetball became popular he took it up and played tournaments all around the Southwest. He loved to ride his big horse and boat and ski with his grandkids.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, CC and Sybil Kendall Milliken, and his dear grand-daughter, Lesley Napoles. He leaves his wife, Patricia, his beloved sister, Patricia Milliken Lowenfield, and his four children, Kendall (Lyn) Milliken, Gail (Frank) Salm, Ted (Georgianne) Milliken and Tracey (Dr. Marty) Hall. His grandchildren are Richard Salm, Julee S. Leathers, Dane Salm, Kendall E. Milliken, Jr., Ashley Goodrick, Christian Hall, Taira Hall and Teddi Rae Milliken. He was blessed with eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves his dear friend John Crowley, whom he called his brother.

The family wishes to thank the caring nurses of Providence Hospital for their special kindness. Also we are grateful to Paula Thornton and Hospice for their assistance at home.

Service will be held at The Church of St. Clement, 810 N. Campbell on Saturday, February 4 at high noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Church of St. Clement, the Shriners’ Hospital for Children and the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.

Funeral Services entrusted to Hillcrest Funeral Home –West (915) 587-0202