Miles Christian

Miles Christian, 88, of Mansfield, died early Wednesday morning, December 7, 2005 after an extended illness. Born August 27, 1917, in Viola, Tennessee, he was the son of Doyle and Kate Christian. Miles graduated with honors from McMinnville Central High School where he was an outstanding member of the football and basketball teams. He attended Castle Heights Military Academy before entering Cumberland University, graduating in 1940 with a BS in Chemistry and Social Science. He was selected for OCS Training at Notre Dame University and after completion of Officer Candidate School in 1941, entered the U.S. Navy. He served aboard a combat troop transport ship in the South Pacific, the USS William P. Bittle, during WWII. He was discharged in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander having moved up the ranks from Ensign. In 1942, he married his first wife, Emeline Fate and remained married until her death in 1987. He then met and married Fran Rupp in 1989 and they remained married until her death in September 2005. Miles began his business career at Fate-Root-Heath Co. in 1945 as a draftsman in the engineering department. He moved through the ranks to sales and then to management, culminating his career as President/Chairman of the Board in the mid 1980s after the company now known as Plymouth Locomotive Works had been sold twice. Throughout the years, he served in various capacities with several organizations. These included PTA, American Legion, Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Mansfield Art Center. He was a 32nd degree Mason and once held a private pilot's license in 1955 while owning a Piper Tri Pacer. After retiring, he served as President and Chairman of the Board for Richland County Foundation in the late 1980s and served on the Board of Directors for the Mansfield campus of The Ohio State University. In 1993, he created Children's Butterfly World in Mansfield, stemming from his love of butterflies and wanting to share his interest with others. He loved animals and many other things in nature. Being an artist and creative person, Miles created in a variety of mediums from drawing, to painting, to architecture and building, to metal sculpturing, to photography, to writing.

He is survived by a son, Miles Fate Christian; a stepdaughter whom he raised, Penny Knight; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Vaughn Christian of Tenn. and Buck Christian of Lake Placid, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Emeline Fate Christian; second wife, Fran Rupp Christian; and stepson whom he raised, Toby Simmons.

Memorial services will be observed Saturday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors with military honors immediately following the service at the funeral home. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Contributions in Miles' memory may be made to Richland County Foundation, American Cancer Society, or any Alzheimer's Support Group.