Ralph Oakley Miller

Ralph Oakley Miller, 99, of South Haven, Kansas, passed from this world on Saturday, February 27, 2021, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Ralph was born the son of Carson and Grace (Richmond) Miller on December 1, 1921. Ralph was raised on a family farm outside of South Haven, Kansas, and was an outstanding high school athlete playing football and basketball before graduating from South Haven high school in 1940. He married Delores Fay "Dee" Robinson on December 3, 1941 in Wichita, Kansas, and they soon joined Ralph’s brother Jay in Washington state working at an apple orchard box factory. Ralph and Dee returned to South Haven in the summer of 1942, so Dee could live with family and Ralph could enlist in the military as a result of WWII. He served overseas 25 months as an armorer in the 390th Bomb Group (H), 570th Squadron, 8th Air Force based in Framlingham, England. Ralph loaded bombs on B-17s and supervised the work of 8 armorers ultimately earning the rank of SSgt. Ralph was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster and 6 major campaign stars. Ralph was reactivated during the Korean War servicing F86-Sabers in Michigan. Following his Honorable Discharge from the military, Ralph and Dee worked together and owned several service station businesses in the South Haven area, starting with the South Haven Oil and Supply (Derby) where they lived in the back for many years until they built their permanent home on Main Street in South Haven; the Fina station and restaurant on I-35; and the Texaco station just north of town known as the “Country Store”. Ralph retired several times over the years, finally hanging it up at the service department of the Caldwell, Kansas Co-Op at the age of 84. However, he did volunteer to mow the lawns for the South Haven Schools for a couple years and continued to fall, buck and split wood for their home until he was 92. Ralph was active in the Community Church of South Haven and honored as a member of the Society of John Wesley. He also enjoyed supporting South Haven schools, sports, and the town fair. Survivors include his son, Clifford Miller and his wife Vickie of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; daughter, Trisha Lyons and her husband Alan of Amarillo, Texas; 6 grandchildren (Kelly Miller, Lorre Kay West, Angela Boroughs, Gretchen Barnhill, Bart Russ and Benjamin Russ); 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dee, brothers: Lee, Harry, Truman and Jay Miller and sisters: Verna Rehm, Vivian Miller and Vera Wolf. A viewing will be held at the funeral home 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday, March 5, 2021. Services will be held at the Community Church of South Haven at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 6, 2021, followed by graveside services at Rose Hill Cemetery, South Haven, Kansas. If attending, please plan to wear a face mask and social distance when possible. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contributions be given to the South Haven Fair Association or the Community Church of South Haven. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home. To share a memory, leave condolences or sign his digital tribute wall, visit www.cornejofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, Kansas.