Barry W. Miller

Barry W Miller

SARASOTA, FL - On June 9th, 2021 we lost our Dad, Barry William Miller, at his home in Sarasota, FL. Barry was an extraordinary husband, father, son, brother, and grandfather, and lived his life to its fullest to the very end. He left in peace, with his two beloved daughters by his side.

Barry's story began in Riverside, CA in 1948, born to his young Wisconsin-born Army Air Corps father, "Dutch" and his Texan mother, Gerry. Barry had two sisters, Karen and Carla. Like most military kids, Barry grew up traveling the US. He enjoyed recounting stories of his childhood to everyone and we cherished listening to how as a child, he swam and fished the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and ran through forests and marshes to catch snakes and other critters.

Barry moved to La Crosse, WI in 1964, his senior year of high school. Not knowing anyone, he found friends with common interests and made music, performing at hip venues long since gone. Barry's guitar was recently restored by a local shop and before his death, given to his grandson, Andrew. Barry made lasting friends in in La Crosse, but college at UW - Madison was too much fun and the Navy ROTC agreed.

Barry moved to Washington D.C. and met his love, Mary, a girl striking out from her small hometown in Pennsylvania. Barry enlisted in the Army in July of 1969, married Mary in April of 1970 and graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS) in October that year. Barry completed flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama where Mary and Barry had a daughter named Christine, named for a cherished family friend. Barry deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1972, returned stateside in 1973 and relocated to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where a second daughter, Kelly, was born in 1976.

Barry continued to serve as a Transportation and Army Aviation officer, flying the UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra. The family moved where his assignments took him, from the hills of (then) West Germany, to the beaches of Hawaii and across America's heartland Midwest. Through it all, Mary was his steadfast military wife and partner. Barry retired honorably as an Army Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) in 1992 after 23 years of service.

The family returned to La Crosse and Barry earned his Master's degree and a position at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse until his retirement. Barry and Mary were married for 52 years until her unexpected passing last fall.

Our Dad was ever an adventurer. He loved our Mom more than life and knew his own time was dear. Barry always loved the Gulf of Mexico and decided that after the loss of his wife, in spite of his own ailing health, he had one last adventure to be had. He made a new home in Sarasota, and it was lovely and lush, with all the warmth promised on Florida's Suncoast. He made special fast friends with his neighbors, Roger and Theresa Rimbey. He was happy, and we are heartbroken that he didn't have more time to enjoy his much-deserved paradise.

Barry Miller is preceded in death by his parents, Earl D. and Ruth G. Miller; and by his wife and partner in life Mary Ellen Miller. He is survived by his sisters: Karen (Miller) Johnson of Dayton, OH and Carla (Miller) Lachecki of Columbus OH; daughters and sons-in-law Christine (Miller) Moffitt, Matt Moffitt, Kelly (Miller) Waldenberger, and Todd Waldenberger; grandchildren Alex Miller, Brody Waldenberger, Andrew Moffitt, and Katie Moffitt.

Special thanks to Dad's incredible medical team at Gundersen in La Crosse, WI and Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, FL. You treated our father with dignity and grace, fought hard for his longevity and comfort, and ultimately provided care and compassion beyond measure to him and his family as he left this life. To you we are forever grateful.