Ivan William Miller

Ivan was the son of George and Johanna (Ivens) Miller, born in Iowa on 4 August 1941. His early life was spent on his grandparents’ farm, where he first developed a taste for “sweet corn” that stayed with him his whole life.

When he was 15, his family left Iowa for Arizona, where Ivan met his future wife, Caroline Tipton, at a back to school church party. They married 17 July 1964 in Phoenix.

Ivan was proud to be a Naval Aviator. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1963, and was commissioned and earned his wings just before he married. He served as a Navigator on flight crews of C-118s and C-130s in VR-21, flying supplies and personnel in support of the Vietnam War, for which he earned an Air Medal with a Gold Star for meritorious achievement in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia “in the face of hazardous flying conditions”. In VXE-6, his support of Antarctic research during Operation Deep Freeze was a highlight of his Naval career. He was stationed at Barbers Point Hawaii, Alameda Naval Air Station, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, and the Naval Postgraduate School during his active duty service. These years were the subject of many stories over the years, and some of his close friends and most cherished memories centered around his squadrons.

After 12 years active duty and another 9 years in the Navy Reserves, Ivan retired from the military. In his civilian life, he was a Realtor/Broker, building homes in Pacific Grove as well as selling property all over the Peninsula. He last worked with Custom House Realty with his friend Terry Wecker.

Ivan was a member of Monterey Masonic Lodge #217, the Monterey Peninsula Jaycees, Monterey Elks Lodge #1285, and multiple genealogy societies, including the Monterey County Genealogy Society. He also belonged to the American Legion and the Military Officers Association of America.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, his brother George, and his in-laws, Kenneth and Mary Tipton, of which he was quite fond. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, his son Chris and daughter Cindy (Jason Karner) and his cherished granddaughter, Olivia Grace. His extended family includes sisters-in-law Josephine Miller and Eva Van Ess (Edward), brother-in-law Jerry Tipton (Cindy), and their children. He leaves seven nieces and one nephew, who all will miss their Uncle Ivan.

Burial will be in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 4.