He died peacefully at his home Saturday evening April 14, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was predeceased by his youngest daughter, Rebecca Dale Miller, and his son-in-law, Denver Wilson, Sr; his parents, and all his siblings, Algy Miller, Harold Miller, Webb Miller, Troy Miller, Clyde Miller, Daniel Miller, and Myra Etta Miller Mullican. He is survived by his wife, Mildred Byrd Miller, and daughters, Cindy Simpson ( Melvin Simpson), and Dianne Omar (Weiss Omar); granddaughter, Courtney Wilson.
He attended school in Florence, MS. At age fourteen, during the Great Depression years, he went into the Conservation Corps, "CCC Camps," and was sent on a train to Hackamore, California, where he learned valuable skills and had supervisory experience. He was a self-educated man due to his love of learning and curious mind. Astronomy, photography, carpentry, woodworking, and airplane flying were interests. He earned a private pilot license after returning from serving in the war.
He started working for Gulf Oil in Memphis TN, then, on December 8th, 1942 Dale enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, having received his draft notice. He served in WWII, in the Pacific, for over two years and participated in the defense of Apamama (Abemama), Gilbert Islands, and Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. He was honorably discharged, December 1,1945, and returned to Jackson, MS where he met his future wife, Mildred, soon after, and resumed working for Gulf.
After retiring from 35 years of employment as a retail marketer with the Gulf Oil Corporation, and several more years spent in the petroleum industry, Dale and Mildred lived in Independence, MO until 2014 where they were very active in church, Dale serving as a minister for The Lord Jesus Christ. The last four years have been spent, living back home in Mississippi, close to beloved family in Florence, on Mildred's old family Home place.
Dale was a Mason and a Shriner. He had a beautiful voice, sang, and played the guitar, having had no formal training as a musician. He sang with a gospel quartet on radio in his mid teens. He was a member of the Shrine Chanters, a singing group, traveling and competing with other groups in the US Southeast Region, in his younger years, before becoming ordained to the ministry after which he devoted his time to serving in the church.
Funeral services will be held at Lakewood Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 2:00PM, followed by burial in Lakewood Memorial Park, across the road on Clinton Blvd. Visitation begins at 12:00 noon and will end at 2:00PM just before the service.
Suggested donations for those who would like, send to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Please visit lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for online guestbook.
