Recipient of the Air Force Commendation medal
Published in the January 25, 2018 edition
WAKEFIELD — William A. “Billy” Miller, Jr., Lt. Col. USAFR, 85, a longtime Wakefield resident, died Monday, January 22, 2018 at the Lahey Clinic Hospital in Burlington after complications from a fall in his home.
Born February 20, 1932 he was the son of the late William A. and Bertha (Lewis) Miller.
Bill lived in Medford at an early age before moving to Wakefield at the age of nine. He was a graduate of Wakefield High School, Class of 1949 and went on to graduate from Tufts Engineering College in 1954. During his school days, Bill was a baseball player earning high school and college letters and also participated in park league.
After completing his education, Bill went on to attend the United States Air Force flight school, and finished as a 2nd Lieutenant and Navigator. He spent two years in Korea and Japan as a co-pilot/navigator of an RB-26C Recon A/C and worked as a sales engineer for 3M Co., Sangers Assoc., and Kearfot Division General Precision. He also served in the Air Force Reserves with two years spent on missions to Vietnam. Bill finished his service as a Master Navigator instructor and ended his career as an Air Force Admissions Officer of Eastern Mass. He ultimately retired as a Lt. Col. in 1985 with many medals, including the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Outside of his reserves activity, Bill started a public accounting business which grew to be very large and operated for 35 years.
He was the beloved husband of the late Margaret P. (Leary) Miller, whom he married in 1963. He is survived by his sister, Janet Flanagan of Wakefield; sisters-in-law, Maureen MacKay and her husband James and Ann Caristo and her husband Robert, all of Wakefield; brother-in-law, James Leary and wife Brenda of East Boston; and many loving nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Bill is also survived by many loving and loyal friends.
His funeral service will be at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday at 11 a.m. Interment, Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. Visitation for relatives and friends prior to the service beginning at 9 a.m.
