James F. Miller

Obituary for James Fred Miller, Jr. Jim was born in Bayonne, New Jersey in 1918 to Edna and James Fred Miller, Sr. and passed away Dec. 14, 2015 at age 97. He always wanted to fly, and became a pilot during WWII when he served in the China Theater. He also served in Korea, after which he served in the New Jersey Air National Guard. He rose to the rank of Colonel, and was head of the NJ ANG during the Vietnam War. He flew many supply missions there. After the war, he flew training missions to many places in Europe. He also had a lifetime career with Esso (later Exxon), starting after High School, eventually becoming head of the Trucking Division in the Pelham, NY branch. In later years he had his own small plane and would attend various fly-ins including the one in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1989 he flew his beloved 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza to California and back. Although he flew his own plane for the last time at the age of 92 he took great pleasure in watching the planes takeoff and land at the Aero Club. Jim also enjoyed boating and working on his HO-scale railroad. He will be remembered for his ever-present smile. Jim married the former Laura Bennett in 1940. They had two daughters, Judi (Davis) and Jill (Perry). In 1954, they divorced and Jim married Virginia Smith. They had a son, James F. Miller, III. After Virginia's death in 2000, Jim married Grace Smith, and the couple moved from New Jersey to Florida. Jim was also preceded in death by his wife Grace, his daughter Judi Davis, and his son Jimmy. He is survived by his daughter Jill Perry, his four grandchildren, Bret Davis, Kara Davis Burke, Sierra Perry Ryan and Adrienne Perry, and by his three great-grandchildren, Will, Weston and Judy Burke.