Celebrating LW Centenarians

This is one story in an occasional series profiling some of LW’s most long-lived residents, those who have reached the enviable age of 100 years or more. The series is running in connection with the Golden Age Foundation centenarian event held April 20. In most cases, a family member or friend has written the stories.

by Nancy Davidson

special to the LW Weekly

William Miller of Mutual 3 was born on Oct. 10, 1922, in Colwyn, Pennsylvania, the son of Jacob and Anne Miller. Jacob was a steam fitter and Anne, a housewife. Together, they had two more children: Marion and Frank. Life for the family of five was not easy in the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, and Bill was lucky enough to get a paper route. All funds earned were put into the family earnings. Bill graduated from Collingdale High School in 1940, and when Pearl Harbor was bombed, he, like many other patriotic men in his community, joined the armed services. One quarter of the men in his high school class would not return home.

Bill enlisted in the Navy. After basic training was sent to Pensacola, Florida, to work as an airplane mechanic. Maintaining Stearman biplanes instilled a lifelong love of flying. While at Pensacola, Bill learned that the Navy was accepting officer candidates, so he worked hard to pass all the requisite tests.

He was accepted at the original USC (University of South Carolina), where he graduated and was awarded his commission as an officer. He was then ordered to Long Beach to serve aboard the USS General Anderson. While stationed in Long Beach, he met and married his first wife, to whom two children were born, a son and a daughter.

Bill was then transferred

World War II veteran William Miller will celebrate his 100th birthday on Oct. 10. to the USS Midway, which patrolled the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. When the Korean War broke out, Bill completed three tours of duty as executive officer on board the USS Bon Homme Richard and the USS Redstart.

After completing his service in the Navy, Bill returned to college to earn an additional degree in mathematics and secondary education. He spent several years teaching high school in Compton and Garden Grove. While there, a co-worker informed him there were wonderful opportunities in the fledgling aerospace industry. After submitting his application to Autonetics, he was hired as an aerospace engineer, testing rockets that would soon be used in the Gemini and Apollo space missions. He also wrote programs for the onboard computer systems.

Unfortunately, the NASA space program ended, and many talented people were out looking for jobs. Bill spent the last part of his working life in the post office, retiring in 1987.

After Bill’s second divorce, he sold his property in North Long Beach and moved to Leisure World in 1997. He was attracted by the many amenities in the community (especially the free golf) and determined to make this his last home.

Bill’s love of flying continued through his life, and he spent many an hour in the cockpit of a single engine airplane, taking trips all over the country with his favorite dog, Mac, as a co-pilot.

His golf clubs were always in the plane as well, and he played courses in Pennsylvania, California, Florida and Washington, among other places. He also loved to skeet shoot and play pool, but becoming legally blind cut back on his hobbies.

In Leisure World, Bill has been a member of the pool club, is a lifetime member of the VFW, a member of the American Legion and a member of Rollin’ Thunder.

While his lack of sight may hinder some of his hobbies, he is still very aware of current affairs, and his memory is sharp as a tack. Bill is also a strong advocate for Shriner’s Hospital for Children, having made it a priority to donate money on a monthly basis for the past 30 years. Bill has been recognized by El Bekal Shriners and Shriner’s International for his continued dedication to the children and support of the hospital. Having nearly achieved the age of 100, he has outlived just about everybody in his family, including his brother and sister. He has three nieces in various parts of the country and one daughter who lives near him in Leisure World.