Lt. Col. Frank Shaw Miller's Obituary
Lt. Col. Frank Shaw Miller, USAF (Ret.) died peacefully on April 28, 2009 at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE. Frank was born on May 26, 1918 in the Bronx, New York City, NY. He was the son of U.S. Naval Communications Officer Frank Saxe Miller and Violet Shaw Miller. His family moved from the Bronx to a farm outside of Wyalusing, PA when he was a child, and then later to a home in the town of Wyalusing. Frank played the trombone in the school band, and was an avid runner, excelling in track. He graduated from Wyalusing H.S. in 1936, and attended Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA, then the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, as well as Drexel Institute.
As a teenager and young man, he spent much time enjoying, building and flying model airplanes. He was able to transfer his love of planes and flying to a career in the U.S. Air Force. He became an aviation cadet in November 1941, and in 1942 became a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Air Corps with a pilot rating. He trained for combat in the Martin B-26 bomber at Barksdale Field in Shreveport, LA. He flew 40 combat missions with the 442nd Bombardment Squadron of the 320th Bombardment Group while in North Africa and Sardinia during WWII. His assignments after the war included Flight Instructor at Selfridge Field in Michigan, Flying Safety Officer at Shaw Field in SC, Commandant of the FEAF Aircraft Specialist School at Yokota Air Base in Japan, and Operations Officer at the Air Force Base in Keflavik, Iceland. He trained and served at many other locations, and received a number of awards throughout his career, including the Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters.
While stationed in Okinawa in the 1950s, Frank met and fell in love with Joan Woodman, an American school teacher. They were married on April 13, 1957 in Okinawa. Frank and Joan moved to Dover, DE in 1958 where he became AACS Squadron Commander at Dover AFB. His three children were all born in Dover.
Frank retired from the Air Force in 1963, and the family moved to Rockville, MD. He then began a 20+ year career with the National Park Service in Washington, DC. He worked as a Park Guide and then a Supervisory Park Guide, often giving lectures and tours at the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. He was fascinated by the life of Thomas Jefferson, and attended training at Monticello, as well as a variety of other trainings throughout his career with the NPS. He later served as a Budget Analyst for a several years before he retired in late 1984. A retirement celebration was held in his honor at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC.
In later years, Frank was very much involved in the lives of his three children and his grandchildren. He was an exceptional photographer and enjoyed traveling and camping, spending many vacations trailer camping with his family. Frank and Joan moved to Rehoboth Beach, DE in 2002. Frank had many friends, neighbors and relatives who loved him dearly and will miss him.
Frank was predeceased by his parents, two sisters and a brother. He is survived by his wife, Joan Woodman Miller, his children, Kevin Miller of Camp Hill, PA, Maureen Miller of Germantown, MD, and Alan Miller of New Market, MD, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held at Parsell Funeral Home in Lewes, DE on Friday, May 1 from 7-9PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 2PM at All Saints Episcopal Church in Rehoboth Beach, DE. A burial service will be held at 1PM on Monday, May 4 at the Sussex Veteran’s Cemetery in Millsboro, DE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the:
Alzheimer’s Association
Delaware Valley Chapter
P.O. Box 625
Georgetown, DE 19947
A Funeral Procession will depart the funeral home on Monday at 12 noon for the cemetery. All participants should arrive by that time for lineup.
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