Ralph Miller

Clyde-Ralph Francis Miller, age 85, of 143 Bradford Park, died on Sunday, February 26, 2006 at Silver Bluff Village. In Rochester, NY on June 1, 1921, Ralph Francis Miller was born into the family of Aloysius and Josephine Miller. He shared a loving and fun childhood with his siblings, Eleanor, Ray, Ted, Joe, and Mary. As a young adult, who loved his country, he joined the Army Air Corp and served during World War II. Returning home at the end of the war, he was carrying a small black dog named Fritz. Fritz had been his friend and companion. A short time later, he met and was married to Doris Driscol until her death. They had three children, Tom, Kathy, and Maryann. He had a long career in hospital and healthcare finance, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In 1981, he married Julie Anderson Drane in Atlantic Beach, FL. They shared a family with his stepchildren, Emmett and Laura Drane. He resided in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL until moving to Haywood County in 1992 with his wife, Julie. Ralph had a great love for God and St. Margaret's Church, of which he was a member and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He was so very proud of each of the five children and all the grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Julie Anderson Miller; a mother-in-law, Elise Smith of Savannah, GA; two daughters, Kathy Sprague and husband, Patrick, of Arlington Heights, IL and Maryann Miller of Huntley, IL; a step-daughter, Laura Harris and husband, Greg, of Clyde, NC; one son, Tom Miller and wife, Connie, of Jacksonville, FL; a step-son, James E. Drane, III and wife, Cheryl, of Canton, GA; two brothers, Raymond Miller and wife, Ann, of Rochester, NY and Ted Miller and wife, Shirley, of Detroit, MI; two sisters-in-law, Mary Kay Miller of Rochester, NY and Janet Tyler and husband, David, of Savannah, GA; one brother-in-law, Jim Royal and wife, Claudia, of St. Simons Island, GA; and 11 grandchildren. Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, March 4, 2006 at St. Margaret's Catholic Church with Father Frank Doyle officiating. Burial will follow at Beards Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Glennville, GA. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Margaret's Church, P.O. Box 1359, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 or Reach of Haywood County, 1085 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

Previous Events