Richard "Dick" Miles

Richard R. (Dick) Miles, 92, of Chattanooga, died on May 30. “Where I’ll go, only God knows,” Dick instructed his wife to put this in his obituary. Horrified, she said she wouldn’t do it, but there it is. (Dick hoped everyone would get a good chuckle out of that; he certainly did.) The thing that gave him the most pleasure was making people laugh or sharing good stories.

Dick was born in Nashville and, at eight months, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Miles. They brought him to their home on Signal Mountain, which he loved and where he spent most of his life.

He was a veteran of World War II and was wounded in Italy. He never complained about the wound, which he dealt with the rest of his life; he never wanted for infirmity to define his life. His sacrifice, and the sacrifices of many of his generation, ensured our futures.

After the war, he attended the University of Chattanooga where he was editor of the Echo for two years, inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society, was in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He met his wife of 62 years, Molly Crumbliss, at UC. They had four children: Janis (deceased), Carol, Andrew (deceased), and Amy who were his pride and joy. He felt that life was complete when Amy married Allen Young and they had two children named Andrew and Janis.

Just shy of graduation, Dick quit UC in order to work on the copy desk at the Chattanooga Times. He joined Interstate Life and later Mutual Benefit Life and several other companies where he worked with families to help them plan for protecting their futures with life and disability insurance.

Dick served as President of the Chattanooga Association of Life Underwriters and, in 2002, received the sixth annual Sidney O. Pike award, which read, “On the wings of eagles you have soared with vision, honor and love for humanity.” Dick also served as President of the Chattanooga Boys Choir board and the Chattanooga Ostomy Association and was a member of the board of directors of the Arthritis Foundation and the Chattanooga Opera Association.

Dick was devoted to his church, St. Timothy’s Episcopal of Signal Mountain. He served as chair of pastoral care on the vestry, as a programmer for Sunday School and as a Stephen Minister. He believed in the Great Commandments, “Love God…and Love your neighbor..” In the Monday morning prayer group, his fellows, all women, recall enjoying his stories and being moved by his prayers. He often said, “It’s simple. God is love.”

The service for Burial of the Dead will be at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain at 10:30 on June 7, 2014 with a reception “Dick’s Party” -visitation to follow. If you wish to, donations may be made in his memory to the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Hosanna Community, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice.