Milan Milich

Milan "Tom" Milich, 86, of Bland died Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at a Bluefield, W.Va., hospital. A graveside service was held Tuesday, July 28, at 1 p.m. at LaFayette Memorial Park in Brier Hill, Pa. He was born Oct. 23, 1923, in Pleasant Unity, Pa., son of the late Emil R. and Anna Milich. He attended Rosefield Grade School in Richeyville, Pa., and graduated from Centerville High School in 1940. He attended Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., from 1940 to 1942 where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on July 22, 1942. He graduated from the Pan American School of Navigation in December 1943 and was commissioned 2nd Lt. Navigator. He served in the European Theatre of Operations with the 452nd Bomb Group (H), 730th Squadron B-17. He completed 34 missions and was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters and the DFC. He was discharged Oct. 23, 1945. On Nov. 26, 1947, he married the former, Louise V. Seach, his wife of 61 years. In 1948, he graduated from Washington and Jefferson College. Through the years, he had worked as a billing clerk, terminal manager and bookkeeper in association with the trucking business that he, his father and brothers operated. He also was a plant manager and sales manager in the coal industry. He was semi-retired at 65 and fully retired at 75. He is survived by his loving wife, Louise Seach Milich of the home; a brother and sister-in-law, Dewey and Elaine Milich of Brownsville, Pa.; a sister, Lillian McCarthy of Florida; and special friends, Lonnie and Joyce Keene of Bland. Online condolences may be made at www.mercerfuneralhome.com. Mercer Funeral Home in Bluefield, W.Va., was in charge of the arrangements.