Notes:

Obituary:

Richard ("Rusty") Frank Miller II, 67, died June 21, 2017, at home in Lexington, KY.

Rusty was preceded in death by parents, Mary Jo Miller and Richard (Dickie) F. Miller.

Survivors include his wife, Viola Miller; children, Richard F. Miller III and Ashley Willis (Anne); granddaughter and love of his life, Charlotte ("Charlie") Jo Miller; surrogate grandchildren, Quentin Brightwell, Kayla Simpson, and Skylar Simpson; brother, Hugh Anthony Miller (Janice), and nephews, Ty and Mark Miller.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Rusty was a decorated Viet Nam combat veteran. He served in the Marine Corps on active duty from July 1968 to July 1972, and then in the reserves until 1974. Rusty received a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, a Naval Achievement Award with Combat V, and numerous other honors. Rusty was injured on July 24, 1969 in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam from hostile mortar fire during an attack on the command post area. During his service, he was promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal and Sergeant. After combat duty, Rusty was assigned to the U.S. Presidential Helicopter, HMS I, as the Marine Guard.

Rusty was employed by the United States Postal Service for 34 years. In 2006, he retired from the USPS in Murray, Kentucky and moved to Nashville where his wife, Viola, was serving as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's services. In early 2017, Rusty and Viola moved from Nashville to Lexington, Kentucky to be near family.

Rusty was an avid gardener, history buff, and news junky. He was a yellow dog democratic who supported equality for all people long before doing so was popular. Although a naturally shy person, Rusty easily made friends and was at-ease with all people, especially when the conversation was deep and of substance.

Rusty loved church. He was a member of St John's Episcopal Church in Murray, Kentucky for over thirty years. At St. John's, Rusty served on the Bishop's Committee and was Bishop's Warden. During his twelve-year residency in Nashville, Tennessee, Rusty was a member of St Ann's Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry and participated in a multitude of church activities.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexander Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, or to St Ann's Episcopal Church, 419 Woodland Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37206.

A requiem eucharist will be celebrated at 4:00 PM Sunday, June 25, 2017 at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, and a reception will follow the service.

(Published in The Tennessean on June 22, 2017)

Richard — V.G. Pugh. [Group Sheet]

1. R.F. Miller, III