Robert Ben Miller

Robert (Bob) is survived by his daughter Heather Salt and sons John Miller and Michael Miller, along with 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Rose Marie Miller, whom he has now reunited with in afterlife.

Bob was born on a farm in rural Michigan and raised during the worst of the Great Depression, graduating high school in a class of only 16 students. As youth he farmed, bailed hay, delivered milk and newspapers in a horse drawn wagon, printed the local newspaper, lifeguarded at the local swimming hole and learned how to repair engines.

He entered the navy shortly before World War II and was in his bunk on the Narwhal when the Pearl Harbor attack began. After several combat submarine tours, he became a chief engine mechanic on a Navy VIP ship that was destroyed or sunk along with many other ships in the horrific Typhoon Cobra which killed many sailors including his best friends. He was lucky to have survived.

Following the great war, he had some stints in sales before joining the Army to serve as a helicopter engine mechanic in the Korean war. After transferring to Colorado Springs and retiring from the armed forces, he joined the civil service. He became a valuable contributor to NORAD missile defense planning winning many commendations for his service there before retiring again for good.

Bob was a jovial, charming and quick-witted man who was almost always in a good mood and ready to joke. He was calm, stoic, cheerful, pleasant, kind, dependable and hard-working to a fault. He could build or fix almost anything with his hands. He provided a great home for his wife and children. He and his wife Rose developed and maintained many wonderful friendships with those they met in their travels.

He will be sorely missed and surely remembered forever by those who knew him. Funeral and burial services were conducted with full military honors at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on April 29th, 2019