Gerald Milton "Gerry" Miller
Obituaries
Daily Sentinal page 5C - March 13, 2022
Gerald M.
Miller
October 8, 1927 - March 6, 2022
Gerald “Gerry” Milton
Miller passed away
peacefully at home, with
close family by his side,
Sunday, March 6, 2022.
He was the son of John
Thomas Luther Miller
and Desdemona Davis,
born in Milliken, CO,
October 8, 1927. He was
preceded in death by his
parents and brothers,
Thomas “Kay” McKay
Miller, of Bothell, WA;
Melvin “Bud” Winfred
Miller, of Bakersfield, CA,
and Jack Luther Miller,
of Fort Collins, CO, and
niece Tamara Jean “Tammy” Miller-McKeown, of
Bakersfield, CA.
Gerry’s older brothers, Kay and Jack, were both pilots
during WWII. However, being too young to enlist with
them, Gerry waited until he was old enough to join and
spent the final years of WWII serving his country in the
U.S. Navy.
After the war was over, Gerry worked for the Union
Pacific Railroad in Laramie and Cheyenne, WY while
attending college at the University of Wyoming. When
his brother, Kay, returned home after serving as a B-25
pilot in the Army Air Corps, he began to teach Gerry to
fly in a 1946 Meyers OTW-165 biplane.
After soloing in 1950, Gerry and Kay both decided that
they would like to obtain their A&E tickets and enrolled
at the University of Denver-Skyranch Aeronautical
School. Gerry received his A&E license in 1951 and
promptly began the restoration process on his Meyers
OTW. That particular aircraft was the first in a series
of over 25 antique/classic aircraft that he meticulously
restored from 1951-2010. He was a licensed FAA A&P/
IA for well over 50 years.
Gerry worked at NCR (National Cash Register) as
a District Sales/Technical Specialist for over 25 years
starting in the Denver, Colorado branch office. He met
Nancy Charlene Miller in Denver where they were
married in 1961, and celebrated their 60th Wedding
Anniversary in July 2021.
Gerry and Char relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 1968
and their only son, Randall Davis Miller, was born in
1969.
Gerry was offered an opportunity with NCR to
transfer back to Colorado in 1979, where he resided in
Grand Junction for the past 43 years.
Gerry has been a fixture of the Mack Mesa Airport
since arriving back in Colorado in the early 1980s.
His maintenance shop was always a welcoming place
for friends to stop by to view the most recent aircraft
restoration, to joke and laugh over coffee and he was
always willing to provide mechanical assistance or
guidance for anyone who asked.
You could never find a more loving husband, father,
and friend. He will be remembered fondly and missed
tremendously by those that knew him.
Gerry was blessed with a wonderful life, and though
the last few years have been difficult, he never lost his
sense of humor or quick wit.
He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Charlene
Miller; eternally grateful son, Randall Davis Miller;
daughter-in-law, Amanda Nicole Miller; grandchildren,
Ashley Evelyn Maurer and Alexander Edward Maurer,
and many other nephews and nieces.
The family would like to extend our deepest love and
appreciation to family friends, Jay Scheevel, of Fruita,
Colorado and Rocky Smith, of Loma, CO, for their
constant help and support through the years. We would
also like to thank the wonderful staff from Abode
Hospice & Home Health for their grace, kindness and
care.
At Gerry’s request, no formal services are being
planned. A celebration of Gerry’s life will be held later
this year
