Miller, William D. Jr.

1928 to 2010 William D. "Don" Miller, Jr., passed away July 12, 
2010, in South Jordan, Utah, of cancer. Don was born in Long 
Beach, California, on December 6, 1928, to William D. "Don" 
Miller, Sr., and Claire Anastasia Miller (nee Forquer), the oldest 
of four boys and two girls. He graduated from St. Anthony's 
High School in Long Beach and joined the United States Air 
Force, and was stationed in Japan during the Korean conflict. 
Through a letter writing project between airmen serving 
overseas and pen pals back home, Don met Bette Louise 
Schultz, then a high school senior. Upon his return from Japan, 
Don and Bette met in person, fell in love, and married in Long 
Beach, California on October 16, 1954. They had four children, 
Dianne (Wally) Burton, Linda (Chris) Miller, William D. Miller III, 
and Beverly (Greg) Breslin, and four grandchildren, Gordon 
Burton, Steven and Claire Oswald, and Matthew Breslin. Bette 
preceded Don in death on June 12, 1990. While his children were 
growing up, Don attended night classes at Long Beach City 
College and worked as an Industrial Engineer. He obtained his 
MBA from Long Beach State College (CSULB) and worked for the 
City of Los Angeles until his retirement in 1998. Don obtained 
his private pilot's license and flew his own Cessna. He also built 
from blueprints an ultra light aircraft, which he flew once and 
then sold to another ultra light enthusiast. Don met Sylvia 
Lunden in 1990, and found a kindred spirit to share his love of 
travel. Don and Syl married in 1991 and settled in Oceanside, 
California. Don and Syl traveled extensively for the next 15 
years, filling their home with mementos from around the world. 
Don's family wishes to thank the many kind and gentle souls 
who walked beside us in the last months of Don's life: his sister 
Claire Henning, Linda Tabbs, the staff of St. Elizabeth Hospice 
(San Diego CA), San Luis Rey Mission Parish (Oceanside CA), the 
staff of One Care Hospice (South Jordan UT), Deacon Dale Dillon 
and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Draper UT), Good 
Shepherd Lutheran Church (Sandy UT), and Alta Ridge Assisted 
Living Community (South Jordan UT). Masses for the repose of 
the soul of William D. Miller, Jr., have been held at the San Luis 
Rey Mission Parish, Oceanside, California, and at St. John the 
Baptist Catholic Church, Draper, Utah. Don's children are holding 
a private memorial on October 3, 2010. Memorial donations 
may be made to the American Cancer Society .

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on September 12, 2010