Ralph E. Miller Jr.

Ralph E. Miller, Jr. was born on March 19th 1950 at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital to Ralph Miller and Doris Miller (nee Stratton). Ralph was the eldest of four brothers, survived by Dennis, Bob, and Bill.
Ralph attended Thomas Buchanan Read School, and Tilden Middle School in Philadelphia. His primary education completed at Ridley High School. Following High School, Ralph joined the Air Force.
In 1975 Ralph met his wife-to-be at his brother, Dennis' wedding. After spilling beer down her denim jacket, Margaret Catherine Clark presumed Ralph too inebriated to remember her phone number and allowed him to walk her home.
A courtship followed, in spite of her disdain for Ralph's car. True to his words to Margaret's mother on the day they met, they did marry in 1977 and had two children Amelia (1982) and Geoffrey (1987).
Ralph's passion for aviation, boating, and motor vehicles colored the entirety of his career. He worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the Dover, Delaware Air National Guard Base, and The Boeing Company. By the end of his military career, Ralph had traveled to all but two continents - and carried with him many stories. He had served through Vietnam, Desert Storm and Shield, and Operation Enduring Freedom among other National Guard deployments.
Beyond his mechanical skills, Ralph was an artisan. He had a passion for photography, competing occasionally in local contests. He studied Tiffany-style stained glass under ex-Marine Joe Bateman. His art was shared among friends as gifts, and his art remains hanging in the family home.
Ralph was beloved by many. Among friends the Millers were known to host holidays, where his wife, Maggie would cook a delectable feast - often enough for more than twice those in attendance. Ralph would often hold court, keeping everyone's rapt attention with stories, anecdotes, and the expertly timed one-liner. His quips and humor were timeless, often informed by his love for Looney Tunes, the Three Stooges, and The Marx Brothers.
In 2023, his wife pre-deceased him. In his later days he bravely faced a battle with cancer that he ultimately could not defeat. Ralph found love anew by after a happy accident; when a website he used to connect with other surviving spouses, seeking friendship, somehow matched him with a midwestern widow he was immediately charmed by, in 2024 he wed Evelyn. His final days were hopeful against all challenges, appreciative of the love and support that carried him this far.
He is survived by his brothers, his children, and his beloved wife.
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend his Memorial Visitation on Friday after 10:00 am at the Cavanagh Family Funeral Home, 301 Chester Pike, Norwood followed by a Service at 11:00 am. Interment Private.
The family wishes that all attendees dress comfortably, and "tacky t-shirts" are gently encouraged.