Ronald Gary Miller

RONALD GARY MILLER, SR...81, of Wrightsville Beach Sound, passed away in the first hour of February 19, 2022.  He is survived by his wife, Annette Salling Miller, his son, Ronald Gary Miller, Jr (Sherri), his daughter Susan Miller Thomas, his granddaughter, Amber Thomas Simmons (Dan), his great grandchildren Abigail Rose Gerlits, Bailey, Colby (Suz), Caleb, Kendal, Gabby, Katie Simmons. He is also survived by his sister, Donnie Eames, brothers, Earl Miller (Libby) and Barry Miller (Shirlyn), his brother-in-law, William Salling (Gail), as well as many nieces/nephews and friends.  He was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Fairy Bell Miller and his in-laws, William H and Vivian Salling.

After high school, Gary was a lifeguard at Wrightsville Beach and later a policeman for the same island.  Gary entered the Navy and had many stories of the places and people he saw. He also retired from General Electric, which gave him more time on the road with Nascar and driving buses for his friend, Sterling Marlin, and for Furniture Row.  Along this road, he found himself in the company of many people with names and careers much bigger than his but drawn to the same sport.

Gary’s remembrance of the “ole sound days” around these parts was uncanny.  According to Gary, life’s little heads up like yellow butterflies means the spots are running and a dirty porch post means there are raccoons in the flue.  He was in a 70-car pileup in Colorado and directed his rig off the road as to not hit a smaller vehicle and put himself in the path of a much bigger hit.  These stories are endless and will continue by the ones lucky enough to have sat on a porch, dock or at the track with Gary.

As he continued his life with dementia, his memories of the past were as if they had just happened and still meant enough to retell.  Please join Gary’s family for his funeral service at St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church of Wilmington, NC on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 1:00 pm.  Following the service, friends and family will gather at the Miller home to celebrate his life. Gary was a casual guy, so you are welcome to come that way.  In lieu of flowers, donate to a cause that is dear to your heart.

Share online condolences with the family, here, in the guestbook.