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Ronald Preston Miller – October 28, 2024
Ronald Preston Miller of Colorado Springs, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away at St. Francis Hospital on Monday, October 28, 2024, after a long battle with non-alcoholic liver disease.
Ron was born in Marianna, Florida, on September 27, 1938, to Earl P. Miller and Myrtle L. Reynolds. He later traveled with his mother and stepfather, Carl Rivers, to several Air Force assignments in the US and abroad. Ron loved and was gifted in sports, academia, and music (he loved glee club). He lost his dear mother at the age of 17 and graduated from Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, in 1956.
Ron enlisted in the US Air Force September 1956 and wed his childhood sweetheart, Barbara Anne Langston, on October 27, 1956. Ron’s Air Force career began in SAC and then in SAGE. Ron excelled at training classes and was invited to teach/train at the NCO Academy at Hamilton AFB, California, and was then asked to help open and write curriculum for the new Senior NCO Academy at Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Alabama (while still a MSgt!). His last career move was to the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, where he began as a group Sergeant Major and spent the last 7.5 years in the USAF as the Cadet Wing Sergeant Major (his “dream job” and a top chief slot in the USAF). Notable accomplishments included helping facilitate the entry of female cadets, teaching drill instruction to the drum and bugle corps for public and sporting events, and providing counsel and guidance to so many cadets. Ron completed his BA and MBA degrees during his USAF career.
Ron began his second career in “high tech” as Safety Manager at INMOS Microelectronics and later as HR Manager (and Seymour Cray’s right-hand man) at Cray Computer Corporation and at SRC. Ron retired in 1999 and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren. He enjoyed attending their events and bringing them along to USAFA sporting events which he enjoyed for many years.
Ron lost Barbara in 2010 after 54 years of marriage. Ron met Shirley Ashcraft Brown and they fell in love and were married on March 22, 2014. They were blessed to enjoy 10 wonderful years together. They loved celebrating their “month-iversary,” understanding that marrying later in life would reduce the number of annual anniversaries they would be able to celebrate.
Ron is survived by his wife, Shirley Miller; half-brother, Leon Miller (Millie) of Dothan, Alabama; sister-in-law, Bernice Miller of Panama City, Florida; son, Stephen L. Miller (Michelle) of Fort Collins, Colorado; son, David A. (Kelly), and daughter, Laura A. Bervig (David) of Colorado Springs; grandchildren, Marin and Morgan Miller, Michael and Andrea Miller, Austin (Hannah) Bervig, and Raegan (Jacob) Maddox; step-grandchildren, Dustin Oldenburg (Lynnette, Sean, Adilyn, Logan) and Brandi Risley (Jalyn and Lily). Ron was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara; parents, Earl and Myrtle; brothers, Jim and Bruce; and half-brothers, Donny and Glenn.
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, both at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. Following the service, Ron will be laid to rest at 2:00 p.m. at the USAFA Cemetery.
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