Obituary of Lewis Robert Miller

Lewis R Miller was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on February 28, 1928 and passed peacefully on April 5, 2010 in Kent, Washington (WA). He was the only one of his twelve siblings that was born in a hospital. Lewis, or Lew as many knew him, was a man of high intelligence, a constant learner, establishing himself in many careers. He enlisted for a short time in the Navy Air Corp, testing at the top of every subject on his college entrance exams, and could make any choice of career. He re-enlisted in the newly-formed Air Force and was married in 1949 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Butler, PA. He progressed steadily in the Air Force, teaching electronics classes, being promoted and receiving numerous medals, earning the rank of Senior Master Sergeant with over 20 years of service. After retiring in 1968, he went on to work as a Boeing engineer, a Mayflower mover, an independent long-haul trucker, an HVAC engineer at Bremerton Naval Shipyard and Hygrade Meat Packers, and while in his 60’s, a part owner of Garraway’s Autowrecking Yard. Lewis loved to travel, and while in the military lived with his family in Texas, Germany, Taiwan, Wisconsin and Florida before retiring in Lakewood, WA. His Mayflower and independent trucking experience provided years of additional travel throughout the United States until an injury caused him to switch careers. He continued to stay tuned into the world and nature, and remained an avid student of politics, science and nature. One of his greatest joys was experiencing life at the wrecking yard, where he partnered with his wife and son in growing a business and touching the lives of those he encountered everyday, including employees, family and customers. He enjoyed the freedom of running heavy equipment, towing cars, attending auctions, watching the metal markets and crushing cars as he timed the market. He delighted in going to the shop, so even after he was no longer a partner in the business there was rarely a time until his early 80’s that he missed driving his work truck to Spanaway with lunch pail and coffee and engaged in the activity at Garraway’s, contemplating daily business with pipe in hand. During his entire life, he devoted himself to family and self-sacrifice for other’s benefit, always giving and helping others, leading a humble and simple life. He believed in people and transformation through love, patience and kindness, persistently demonstrating these traits to others. A 42-year resident of Lakewood, WA, he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia, his four children: Margaret I. Voelker, LeeAnna Kraus Glessing, L. Robert Miller II and Eileen Reyné McBride; his four grandchildren: Christopher Voelker, Richard Kraus, Rebecca McBride and Sophia McBride and his sister, Mary McWithey, of Tampa, Florida. He believed in good, honest, hard work; he lived simply and loved greatly. His quiet nature, gentle demeanor and generosity will be missed. Viewing to be held Monday, April 12, 2010 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Edwards Memorial, 3005 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA 98466. Inurnment with military honors from the US Air Force to be held Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:15AM at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042. Eulogy and lunch reception to follow at Mama Stortini’s Ristorante, 3207 East Main Avenue, Puyallup, WA 98372.