Richard James Miles passed away August 8, 2016, in Destin, Florida. Richard was born March 9, 1936 to Ralph and Irene Miles in Lewiston, Maine. He grew up in Auburn, Maine, and went to Edward Little High School. Upon graduation, he joined the US Air Force in 1954.
After completing basic training, his first assignment was as a navigator on KC-97, stationed at Dow AFB in Bangor, Maine. Next, he went to pilot training at Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas. From there he was assigned to Wethersfield AFB, UK. Next he flew the F-100 in Vietnam. His subsequent assignments were at Shepard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, and then at the Air War College in Montgomery, AL, and Incirlik, Turkey. His final assignment was at Myrtle Beach AFB in Myrtle Beach, SC. Colonel Miles received many accolades during his 20 years in the Air Force, including two Silver Stars for gallantry in action.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Irene Miles; his brother, John H. Miles; and two of his children, Douglas Richard Miles and Jeffery David Miles. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Nancy K. Miles; children, Steven Allen Miles (Ronda) and Ruth Ann Mazo (Rick); sister-in-law, Lena Miles; Nephew, John (Linda); niece, Mary Ellen (Roy); grandchildren, Daniel Ryan Miles and Darryl Royce Miles (Jodie), Rebecca and Eric Miles; great-grandchild, Kate Miles. He is also survived by his lifelong friend, Richard “Smitty” Smith, from Lewiston, ME.