Tino passed away with his loving daughter
by his side. He is now with our Heavenly
Father and can walk hand in hand with
his wife Verlee.
Tino was born in Casa Colorado, New Mexico
on August 30, 1919 to Samuel Millan and
Angela Sanchez Millan. He was born the 4th of
8 children. The family moved to Salinas,California,
Monterey, Burbank, Old Town San Diego and
eventually ended up in the Logan Heights area of
San Diego.
As a teen, Tino played Semi-Professional Baseball
on the Memorial Jr. High Team known as the Memorial 9
with Manuel “Nay” Hernandez. He then played with his
brother Tony, Nay Hernandez, Ted Williams and his
father Sam as coach on the Cramer’s Bakery sponsored
team. In 1935 Cramer’s Bakery team was the City League
Champions.
On September 23, 1941, Tino was enlisted in the
US Army and was training at Camp Roberts in
Northern California. After Pearl Harbor was bombed,
he was sent to the Pacific. He took part in the battles
of the Aleutian Islands, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands,
Luzon, Southern Philippines, Solomon’s and the
Invasion of Okinawa. He actually got to see his brother
Joe (also in the Army) right before the Invasion of Okinawa.
Tino was a Squad Leader and went to check on others
in his sqaud. When he came back to the fox hole he
had been in, he found those squad members dead from
a mortar shell.
Tino received his Honorable Discharge on
October 16, 1945 and returned to Logan Heights
and started working for his Father’s Plastering
business.
The Millan family always had food, music, and
dancing at their home on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday nights. That’s where Tino met the Love
of His Life, Verlee. On July 1, 1949 Tino
and Verlee were married. Through this union,
2 babies were conceived, but unfortunately
did not survive.
In December of 1959 they learned of a baby
being put up for Adoption. On March 15,
1960 Elizabeth was born and the dream of
becoming parents came true. Tino was very
proud to be a Dad. Tino and Verlee were very
involved in Girl Scouts as Leaders,
Bobby Sox Softball as manager and
coaches, Valley Travelers as the Trip Planners.
In the early 1960’s Tino got a job with the
Cajon Valley Union School District in the
Maintenance Department. He was well liked
and always kept friendships even after retirement.
He retired after 20 years with the District.
On June 16, 1984 Tino got the BEST Father’s
Day present, 1 day early. He became a Grandfather
to twins Derrick and Briana. Oh how he loved his
Grandchildren. Always there to help with Doctor
appointments, surgery, therapy. I would tell them
when and where and they were there waiting to help.
On June 15, 2014, Tino and Verlee were brought to
Bakersfield, CA to live with their daughter Liz and her
husband David. Then on November 17, 2014 and after
65 years of marriage, Tino lost the Love of His Life,
Verlee. He continued to live with his daughter Liz and
David. They continued to give him the best care that
anyone could receive. He was included in all activities
and made numerous trips to San Diego to visit relatives.
On May 30, 2016, Tino was brought back down
to Logan Heights to a Memorial Day service at
the Logan Heights Veterans Memorial and he received
all his Medals from WWII that he had never received.
He received the American Defense Service Medal,
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars,
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, Bronze Star
Medal, Good Conduct Medal. It brought tears to his eyes
to finally receive these long awaited medals.
In October 2017 Liz accompanied Tino on the Honor
Flight Kern County to see “His” Memorials in Washington
D.C. He really enjoyed himself and it was a once in a
lifetime trip for Liz to be on with her Dad.
He loved camping, fishing, traveling, the Chicago Cubs
(he was really happy they won the world series in 2016),
sitting in his recliner watching out the window to announce,
“the mail is here”, “the gardener is here”, “David is home”.
He was our personal “Neighborhood Watch”.
Tino is survived by his loving daughter
Liz Millan-Wilder and husband David.
Grandchildren Derrick de Geus and
Briana de Geus. Special Granddaughter
Jenna Leonardi and her children.
Brother Paul Millan. Numerous nieces
and nephews.
Tino is preceded in death by his loving
wife Verlee, his parents Samuel and Angela Millan,
2 infants, brothers Tony Millan, Joe Millan, sisters
Alberta Gutierrez, Lydia Norwood, Mary Millan,
and Esther Helzer.
I want to Thank my cousin Tony Millan for
continuous help and support. He participated in
organizing getting the Logan Heights Veterans
Memorial put up. I know Tony was just as excited to
see my Dad there as my Dad was to be there and see it.
Tony also knows so much regarding the Millan family
participation in the San Diego Baseball clubs.
Thanks so much to all our family and friends. You
have meant so much to all of us.
In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation in my Dad’s
name to “vetfriends.org”. They place senior dogs
from shelters with Veterans and cover all the costs.
That way the dog will know love in it’s last years of life.
My Dad and I first got involved with Vetfriends when
we transported a shelter dog by the name of Theodore
down to Corona, CA. Theodore has a forever home
now and was a hoot on the drive down. He sat on my Dad’s
lap and licked his face. He sure loved dogs :)
Viewing will be on Friday December 14, 2018 from
10:00am - 12:00 pm at El Cajon Mortuary 684 South Mollison Ave
El Cajon, CA
Funeral immediately following at 1:30pm at
Miramar National Cemetery 5795 Nobel Dr. San Diego, CA
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