James Richard Miller Sr.

James Richard “Dick” Miller, Sr. 91

Born September 21,1932, to Joseph and Ruth Miller in Pittsburg, PA.

Dick Miller passed away peacefully on August 17, 2024, in Lakeland, FL surrounded by family.

As a young man, Dick attended The Stony Brook Prep School of Long Island, NY and joined the US Air Force during the Korean War in 1951. He was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines where he served and witnessed the first H-bomb test in the Marshall Islands. After his service ended in 1955, he attended Florida Southern College on the G.I. Bill and graduated with honors in 1958. He then served as an FBI agent with posts in Washington D.C., Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

Dick was proud to call Lakeland and Central Florida home. He was a commercial real estate broker and developer for most of his career and worked right up to his passing. He was sponsored into the Lakeland South Rotary Club in 1971 where he was president from 1974-75. He was a board member and facilities chair of the Peace River Center, past board member of the Lakeland Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and a past board member of the First United Methodist Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Ruth Miller, and his wife of 39 years, Rita Anne Gibson Miller. He is survived by his wife Chu Ok Miller, brother Joseph Miller, Jr., children, Jim and Joe Miller from his first marriage, and along with many many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 1971, he married the late Rita Anne Gibson and raised two children, Corey (Jaimi) Miller and Missy (Justin) Carpenter. He will be missed dearly by 4 grandchildren Peyton and Corey “CJ” Miller, and Addie and Wilson Carpenter.

Dick is remembered as an optimistic businessman, a loving husband, and a dedicated father and grandfather. He never met a stranger and always saw the best in people.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00pm, Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Trinity Presbyterian Church located at 301 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801. The family requests in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to Lakeland Regional Health Foundation Office, P.O. Box 95448, Lakeland, FL 33804 or the Peace River Center, Attn: Community Relations, P.O. Box 1559 Bartow, FL 33831.