Mom & Grandpa outside his favorite restaurant

This was his favorite place to eat out, but he loved eating at his home, which he lovingly referred to as his retirement resort.

Grandpa's apartment

Grandpa, being the historian that he was, turned his apartment into a virtual museum, complete with models of the Hindenberg, The Spirit of St. Louis, etc.

History lessons learned

Dr. Miller was my United States history teacher at Southern Oregon College during the l959-60 school year. Every since learning his body and spirit parted company, I have from time to time been thinking about his lasting influence on me.

I never learned his personal views. He never exposed himself as being a Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal, socialist, communist ... I learned history as viewed by historians Beard, Johnson and Turner.

I recall that after his lecture on the cause of the Civil War, I was convinced that economics caused the war. The very next lecture, Dr. Miller gave an equally convincing argument that the war was caused by politics. His third lecture gave the westward movement equal status as to the cause of the Civil War.

Dr. Miller did find some government actions to be overreaching. However, he was equally critical of other governments. He did not blame America for all the world's problems.

Today, in contrast to Dr. Miller, there are many arrogant college instructors who expound history through their own bias. The students are not equipped to argue with the self-centered instructor. They have not read Charles A. Beard's The Rise of American Civilization.

— Bill Hartley,
Medford, Oregon

Sunday Medford Mail Tribune (Nov. 21)

Photo of Mom and Grandpa

From Jen Hodder

I had lost all four of my grandparents by the time I had first met Grandpa Miller. I felt I loved him instantly. Dave and I went and stayed with him for a number of days, and he took amazing care of us. 

He cooked us breakfast every morning, and helped us to map out our days in Oregon. 

We had since visited him a number of times, and I grew to love him more with each visit. I felt he fast became a grandparent to me.

I was so saddened to hear of his passing, and miss him. I am so sad that I will never see him again here in the physical world.

We love you so much Grandpa!

With love,

Jen Hodder

Missing Grandpa

I find myself going from celebrating Grandpa's well-lived life to mourning the loss of one of my greatest sources of inspiration.

Here were some responses from Facebook...

13 hours ago via Email ·  · Comment

• • 

    Steve Hamre He did good with you brother. I'm honored to call you my friend Ricardnov.

    13 hours ago · 
  • 

    Paula Bernhardt 

    I am finding that things hit me at very odd times, too...just the smallest things can trigger memories and great emotion, either sad or happy or hysterically funny. I don't really want to eat pie right now because no one made a pie crust as good as my grandma's and I am just thinking about her a lot these days. 
    I'll be praying for you, Rich! Let the moments happen.

    12 hours ago · 
  • 

    David Winters Sorry to hear of your loss in this life. Praying for you and your family.

    39 minutes ago · 

To see if more have posted, go to http://www.facebook.com/RichSwingle/posts/160304197338271

The Obituary as printed in the Mail Tribune

Here's the link to the obituary as printed: Clifford R. Miller.

The typos were fixed in the version posted here: Obituary for Clifford R. Miller.

Cliff's Life Verse

In the years since my Dad died, Joe Miller, Cliff's older brother, I had occasional correspondance with Cliff.  Sometimes cards, and short letters.  Also, notes on his life.  On several occasions with great emphasis, the would proclaim his Life Verse, Prov 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  It was important to him, and me. 

 

Best wishes to you. 

-Craig Miller

from Rich's church

From Westchester Chapel Church of the Nazarene


My condolences. Yes your father is with our Father now!
Jerome

Dear Joyce and Rich,
So sorry to hear the news but comforted that Grandpa is now with the Lord. Praying for the comfort of the Holy Spirit in your mourning.
In Jesus' name.
Tamara

Actual Obituary sent to local paper

Mom reworked the obituary before sending it to the newspaper.  The obituary she sent is now posted: http://cliffmillerphd.blogspot.com/2010/10/obituary-for-clifford-r-miller.html

At my last meal with Grandpa

This was only 12 days before he died.  He really enjoyed hosting us all.  

My last meal with Grandpa

From members of our worship team

Dear Rich & Joyce,
We were so sorry to learn about your  Grandfather's passing.  May the Lord watch over you and your family as you grieve his loss &
celebrate his life.  It is good to know that he is  with the Lord and that he is enjoying the joy & peace that surpasses all our understanding!

In God's infinite Grace...
Bill & Liz
Worship Team Members
Westchester Chapel Church of the Nazarene
http://WestchesterChapel.org

From our church's prayer update

* Please pray for the Swingles as they mourn the passing of Rich's grandpa.

Pray for the Lord's peace and joy to be their strength as they contemplate his residence with the Lord Jesus now.

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Cliff meets his great-grand daughter Amelia Ferne

Heaven is richer

Heaven is richer today, but what a wonderful man he was.

  I remember him as a tall and very handsome man, my Uncle Cliff;  and as a little girl, I use to get to stay with him, Aunt Hilda and the girls in the basement apartment of the Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, IL. when they were home from  Africa on furlough.  He was lots of fun, and the only one finally able to get me to stop sucking my thumb!  :)

My sympathy to your family in your earthly loss.

Lydia Hooberry