Raymond E. Miller, Sr., 79
Raymond E. Miller, Sr., 79, of Ashland passed away at home on July 31, 2018 after an extended period of ill health. He was born in Ashland on June 17, 1939, to the late Marion and Frances (Kissel) Miller. Ray was a 1957 graduate of Ashland High School.
He was a member of the City of Ashland, Division of Fire for over 30 years. First he served as a volunteer prior to joining the Department full-time in 1963. His service spanned over 30 years and for the final 10 years until his retirement in January, 1990, he served as Assistant Chief.
For 20 years beginning in 1960 Ray was an American Red Cross Instructor and Coordinator of Emergency Disaster Services & Mobile Units for Ashland County.
In 1965 Ray became one of 10 State-certified Trade & Industrial instructors in emergency victim care and fire service instruction through The Ohio State University. In 1970 Ray was part of the first class of 10 paramedics trained in the State of Ohio. He also was one of first paramedics to be certified by the National Registry of EMS Paramedics, allowing him to teach outside of Ohio. With two others, he wrote and assembled the first “Emergency Victim Care” manual for Ohio. During the course of his career he established and trained the personnel for 9 EMS services and taught over 3700 personnel firefighting and emergency squad techniques
Following his retirement in 1990, Ray was a realtor for 10 years with Tanya & Co. He was a 32 degree Mason and held membership in Ashland Masonic Lodge 151, F&AM and the Aladdin Shrine in Columbus. He was a 50-year member of the Ashland Evening Lions Club and served as District Governor in 1992-93.
Ray was a 60-year member of Trinity Lutheran Church, having served on church council and numerous committees through the years. At the time of his passing, he was serving as head usher.
Married in 1960 to the former Ann Staley, they raised three children: daughter, Laura Bailey, daughter Kathleen Pfahler, and son Ray Jr. They have been blessed with four grandsons: Joshua and Josef Miller and Rodney, Jr. and Christian Pfahler.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Robert and Roger, and his sister Margery Moyers.
Funeral services will be held, Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church, 508 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805 with Reverend Eric Riesen and Reverend Michael Koch officiating. Interment will follow in the Imhoff Cemetery. Friends may call Friday, August 3, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home followed by a Lions Memorial Service at 7:00 p.m. Friends may also visit with the family one our prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Cat House Feline Sanctuary, Inc., 1130 East Main St., Box 136, Ashland 44805 or to Ashland County Project Lifesaver, c/o 13B Philanthropic Fund, 107 E. Main St., #4, Ashland 44805, or to Ashland Fire Dept Training Fund, 274 Cleveland Avenue, Ashland 44805.
For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
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