Gerald Richard “Dick” Miles, 84, formerly of Garrett, went to be with his Lord Saturday, Aug. 11th, in Fort Myers, FL. He was born July 31, 1934 in Greenwood, IN to the late Millard and Willnetta (McNeely) Miles. He graduated from Whiteland High School and attended Franklin College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Dick served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1950 – 1956 and on active duty aboard the USS Saratoga from 1956 -1958.
In 1956 he married the late Bonnie Thompson. In 1984 he married Diana Ramsey who survives him. Also surviving are a son, Matthew and his companion Beth of Auburn, IN; 2 grandchildren, Brittany (Cole) Garland of Fort Wayne, IN and Trevor (Devin) Miles of Garrett, IN; 2 great grandchildren, Aleaha and Emmit Miles; 2 sisters, Patricia (Chuck) Peters of Tucson, AZ and Cindy (Jack) Crump of Rochester, IN; 2 brothers, Donald (Judy) Miles of Columbia, MO and John (Cathy) Miles of Victoria, TX and several nieces and nephews.
In 1958 he began his 44 year career as an embalmer and funeral director. He served his apprenticeship and attended Indiana College of Mortuary Science while working at Dorsey Funeral Home in Indianapolis, IN, where he served until 1971. He then moved to Garrett, IN and began working at McKee Funeral Home, eventually purchasing the business known as McKee – Miles Funeral Home. After selling the business he continued working for the new owners, managing the business for several years then as a consultant, retiring in 2002.
Dick was a member of Southwest Baptist Church in Fort Myers, where he served as an usher and did lawn maintenance for many years. He was a member of the Garrett City Masonic Lodge, which now merged with Forest Lodge in Butler, IN and was a lifetime member of the VFW. While in Garrett, he was past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Garrett Rotary Club, Morrell Foundation and Capital Limited Bargain Box. He served as secretary of the Garrett Community Hospital Board and twice served as District 3 Director of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. He was also a member of the DeKalb County Crime Stoppers board. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club.
In 1997 he began spending some of the winter months in Fort Myers, eventually moving and becoming a resident in 2003. He was active in Century 21 Mobile Community, his new home, and truly enjoyed Florida.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Southwest Baptist Church, 16940 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33908 or the National Kidney Foundation.
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