Richard Duane "Dick" Miller, 

67, passed away Monday morning, December 21, 2009, of 
natural causes at his home in Caldwell, Idaho. He was a 
gifted pilot and musician, and lived to teach and share 
with others his love for these passions. Memorial 
services will be held Tuesday at 1pm at Jewett 
Auditorium on the College of Idaho campus, followed by 
a celebration of his life at the Warhawk Air Museum in 
Nampa. There will be a public viewing on Monday between 
4 and 7pm at Dakan Funeral Chapel in Caldwell. Dick was 
born June 2, 1942, to Duane and Virginia Miller in The 
Dalles, OR. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 
1960, received his Bachelor of Music degree from the 
University of Oregon in 1965, his Master of Music 
degree from the University of Idaho in 1969, and his 
PhD in Education Administration from LaSalle University 
in 1997. While at the University of Oregon, he met 
Peggy Swanson and they married March 20, 1965. They had 
two children, Bob and Debbie. Dick was Head of the 
Music Department in Burns, OR from 1965-68. In 1969, he 
became the Professor of Music at the College of Idaho 
in Caldwell. He developed a highly respected jazz 
program during his ten years there and established the 
Educators Big Band, which will be playing at his 
service. Dick got his private pilot license in Moscow 
in 1969. He worked for Davison Air Service in the 1970s 
and established College Aero, a flying club for 
students at the C of I. After leaving the college, he 
was the Chief Flight Instructor for Treasure 
Enterprises. In 1980, the FAA named him Northwest 
Region Flight Instructor of the Year. He established 
Aero-Flite, a flight instruction and charter service 
company in 1981. In 1984, he became an FAA Pilot 
Examiner. Dick flew for the J.R. Simplot Company from 
1986 until his retirement in 2007, serving as a 
corporate pilot and training development coordinator. 
His flight experience includes over 27,000 hours of 
flight time in a multitude of aircraft, and an 
additional 11,000+ hours of dual flight training. On 
August 26, 2006, Dick married Carolyn Martell and has 
enjoyed his "retirement" years training pilots, 
developing advanced pilot training for corporate jet 
aircraft crews, helping others with health issues 
through Radiant Health NW, traveling and farming. They 
had many plans to see the world together. Dick is 
survived by his wife, Carolyn, his son Bob (Rene') 
Miller of Meridian, his daughter Debbie (Jamie) Winters 
of Caldwell, his stepsons Sean (Danielle) Martell and 
Brent (Stacey) Martell both of Meridian, his 
grandchildren Travis Miller, Jacob, Jenna, Jessi and 
Joshua Winters, Tayla and Greyson Martell, his younger 
sister Shirley Miller (Bill Ward) her children Kevin 
(Jamie) Bailey, Donna Bailey and Diana Bailey and her 
grandchildren Samantha and Ashley Prentice and Katelyn, 
Jace, MaKenna and Delaney Bailey, all of The Dalles, 
OR. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be 
sent to Mission Aviation Fellowship (PO Box 47, Nampa, 
ID 83653) or Warhawk Air Museum (201 Municipal Dr, 
Nampa, ID 83687). Condolences and memories may be 
shared with the family in Dick's online guestbook at 
www.dakanfuneralchapel.com.

Published in Idaho Statesman on December 24, 2009