Donald Miller

LITTLETON, COLORADO-Donald Miller, 93, of Littleton, Colorado, formerly of Vulcan Street, Wilkes-Barre, passed away Friday morning, February 19th at the Littleton Adventist Hospital, Littleton, Colorado. Born in the Heights section of Wilkes Barre on October 3, 1916, he was a son of the late H. Frederick and Wilhelmina (Eckardt) Miller. He was educated in the Wilkes-Barre Area school system and was a 1934 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School where he was a member of the varsity basketball team for four years. As a Captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Mr. Miller commanded a B-24 Liberator while assigned to the U.S. 8th Air Force, 492 Bomb Group based in England. Flying daytime bombing missions, Captain Miller flew 12 combat missions over Germany. On June 18, 1944 Capt Miller's plane was severely damaged by German anti-aircraft artillery. Having lost two engines and losing fuel, Capt Miller took evasive action and guided his plane safely to Sweden, landing with empty fuel tanks. As a result, Capt Miller and his crew were interned for ten months in Sweden. He is recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster and the American Theater Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star. On January 1, 1953, Mr. Miller began working at WBRE TV on their first day of operation. He worked there for 27 years, starting in the film department and working his last 14 years as the Production Director before retiring in 1980. He was then employed part time by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District in their Media Department for 13 years, primarily working with the library and audio/video aids. With his extensive film and video background, Mr. Miller loved to travel across the United States, visiting his children and grandchildren and documenting through video the family's special occasions and holidays, giving them as keepsakes and mementos. He was an avid sports fan but especially loved the New York Yankees. He was a member of VFW Post 5267, Hanover Township, and American Legion Post 0463, Plymouth. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mary Murphy, who passed away in 1988; brother, Fred Miller; sister, Ruth Miller Smith and most recently his grandson, Gary Donald Olpinski. Surviving are his son, Donald V. Miller and his wife, Debbie, Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter Marilyn Olpinski and her husband, Gary, St. Louis, MO; daughter Nancy Vinsko, Richardson, TX; and four grandchildren. A visitation will be held Thursday February 25th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at the Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 465 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Private services will follow at the convenience of the immediate family. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society in his name.