William Eugene "Bill" Miles

William Eugene “Bill” Miles, 88, of Lufkin, was born on September 25, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Vera Isabell (Winkler) and Millard Eugene Miles, and passed away April 28, 2012 in a local hospital.

He moved with his family to Snyder, Texas when he was three months old and lived there until he joined the military. He attended Snyder High School for a couple of years and graduated from Fluvanna High School, Fluvanna, Texas in 1941.

He was in the first group of 18 year olds from Snyder, Texas to leave for the military. He served in the National Guard, 36th division, for three months. He had basic training in Clearwater, Florida and trained at Radio School in Sacramento, California and in Bear Lake, California. He then joined the Army Air Corps and left for Newport News, Virginia for North Africa. He served in North Africa, Rome, Naples and Siena, Italy before going to southern France to serve until the war’s end with the 397th Signal Company - Aviation. He traveled home on an aircraft carrier to Newport News, which, as he liked to remember, “took 5 days, 8 hours and 51 minutes”, where he was discharged on December 5, 1945. He enjoyed sharing his memories of his time in the service, especially his time in Italy, with family and friends.

While in the military he was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Medal – Africa, Mediterranean, Europe Theater Medal with four Bronze Stars for Rome/Arno, North Appinines, Southern France, and Rhineland Campaigns. He received the Meritorious Unit Citation for work while in the 12th Air Force Service Command.

He married the love of his life, his “sunshine”, Lilly Maurice Solley, on January 25, 1946. They helped out on the family ranch in Snyder for a short while, and then moved to Lufkin in 1947. They were blessed to be happily married and deeply in love for 62 years.

He worked at Kerr’s Tin Shop and attended Pineywood’s Business School where he studied drafting. He was offered a drafting position at Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company and advanced to become the Chief Draftsman at Lufkin Industries, Inc., Trailer Division, retiring in 1983, after 32 years of faithful service.

During his lifetime he was a self-taught naturalist and loved to hunt and fish and loved just being surrounded by nature. He loved all animals and studied many aspects of nature including astronomy. He later became a nature artist with his works in “tree art”, crafting branches and limbs into works of art. He also sketched and photographed many forms of wildlife and nature. He continually formed wreaths from vines and limbs on his nature walks and these are still found throughout the woods around his cabin and home. He developed an in-depth knowledge of all the local plants, trees, animals, birds and fish and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and appreciation for them with his children and grandchildren.

During his early adult life he developed a deep appreciation for Native Americans and their culture. He spent many hours studying and learning about every aspect of the lifestyle and background of various tribes. He became a strong advocate for Native Americans and was honored by his acceptance by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe in Livingston, Texas. He enjoyed participating with the tribe at their ceremonial pow-wows and was made an honorary member of the gourd dancers, as well as an honorary elder by the tribe.

Much of his time was spent learning how to craft arrowheads from flint and other stones in the native methods. He also learned bead-making crafts and made many decorative pieces using his talents.

After retiring in 1984 he endured numerous medical procedures at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, many of which were cutting edge experimental studies and procedures. He was always eager and willing to participate in medical scientific advancements through these studies and procedures, many of which are now commonplace in the medical field.

Survivors include daughter, Suzanne Miles Crawford; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Jeanie Miles; grandchildren, Corey William Crawford, Dr. Jason Crawford, Ryan and Vicky Crawford, Julie and Nick Hinson, Noland Miles; great-grandchild Crawford expected in September; and other relatives and many dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lilly Maurice (Solley) Miles; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dewey and Sudie Solley; grandparents, K and Vida Morgan; nephew, Dewey K Morgan; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jack and Mildred Morris; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Carl and Catherine Solley; brothers-in-law, J. P. Morgan and James Berryman; and numerous friends.

The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the medical staff at Texas Heart Institute in St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, including Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. David Ott, Dr. Neil Strickman with Hall-Garcia Cardiologists in Houston, Dr. Ruth Wintz with Kidney Associates in Houston, Dr. Michael Mineo with Houston Metro Urology, local physicians, Dr. Lenin Pinnamaneni, Dr. Rick Martin and the medical staff at Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic.

Serving as pallbearers are grandchildren, Corey W Crawford, Dr. Jason Crawford, Ryan and Vicky Crawford, Julie and Nick Hinson and Noland Miles; family friends, Phillip Watson, Kirby Ward and Brandon Curry.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are LaVan Watts, Frank Ragland, Bill Trout, Robert Poland and Jay Flores.

Contributions may be made to The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Development Office, MC 3-117, P.O. Box 20345, Houston, TX, 77225-0345; or the National Kidney Foundation, 12620 FM 1960 W. Ste. A4 #578, Houston, TX, 77065-5365, www.texaskidney.org

Services for Mr. Miles will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Bobby Spencer officiating. Interment will follow in Arnold Cemetery in the Forest community.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Mr. Miles was an extremely intelligent, caring and witty man who was deeply devoted to his family. He was Poppaw not only to his grandchildren but to many young people. His family will always cherish the time we had with him and the example he set for us.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.