OAKHURST – Services have been announced for beloved area resident Dale Miller, now set for Saturday, August 8 at Mountain Christian Center at 2 p.m. A reception will immediately follow at the Oakhurst Community Center Pavillion Room.
Proud American, dedicated firefighter/fire battalion chief, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, Dale Dewey Miller, passed away on July 20, 2015, at the age of 78, at his home with his family by his side. Dale Miller devoted his entire life to helping people and communities.
Through civic organizations he belonged to, Dale helped people locally, nationally, and internationally, making this world a better place and touching many lives in all that he did. Dale will be missed by his family and many friends he has made through his lifetime.
Dale was born April 14, 1937 in Ventura, California, to parents Dewey and Hazel Miller. He attended John Muir High School and Pasadena City College and graduated in 1957. He worked with the United States Forest Service in 1955-56, assigned to the Saugus District of the Angeles National Forest, and the Newhall and Texas Canyon fire stations during that period.
In the latter part of 1957 Dale relocated to the San Bernardino National Forest and was assigned the position of Foreman for the Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs fire crews. In 1958 he was assigned as the newly established Unit Ranger in Green Valley Lake.
In 1960, Dale was hired by the Ventura County Fire Department and started his position of Firefighter assigned to station 45 in Simi Valley. In 1965 he was promoted to Captain and in 1975 promoted to Battalion Chief. Dale was well loved by his fellow firefighters, being from the old school of firefighting, and never being politically correct.
Dale’s desire to care “above and beyond” for everyone around him and the citizens he served, gave him distinction in all aspects of his career. Dale was a member of the Simi Valley Noon Rotary Club and served as their President in 1991. He was also a Board member of the Simi Valley Historical Society. He spent 15 years in various positions with Boys Baseball (now Simi Youth Baseball), serving two years as their President. He also was a member of the Simi Valley Umpire Association.
In 1992, Dale retired, and relocated with wife Barbara to their new residence at River Creek Golf Course in Ahwahnee. In retirement, he was always busy volunteering in many organizations and was the Honorary Mayor in Oakhurst for a year; in 2013 Dale was Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.
Dale loved golfing, boating, fishing, traveling, family, friends, fellowships and all the social gatherings.
His wicked sense of humor and his outgoing personality were traits loved by all, and he was nearly always spearheading events that would bring people together to socialize and have fun. Dale founded the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out), where they would meet every Thursday for breakfast.
Recently Dale was on the Board of Directors for Sierra Ambulance, the Elks Lodge in Oakhurst, and Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary, where he served as their President in 1995 and again in 2012. Dale was also active on the Board of the Oakhurst Community Center, where he served three years as President, as well as Sierra Pines Church Men’s Ministry, and River Creek Golf Men’s Club.
Dale was preceded in death by his lovely wife Barbara in 2010 after 26 wonderful years of marriage, and by his granddaughter Kaitlin Taylor, in 2014.
He is survived by his son Mark Miller (Debbie) of Yucaipa, son Doug Miller (Julie) of Thousand Oaks, daughter Kelly Taylor (Clint) of Syracuse in Utah, daughter Christine Fisher (Hugh), daughter Holli Finley (Dan), and son Rob Martin (Fay), all of Simi Valley, and was blessed with 14 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oakhurst Community Center, P.O. Box 251, Oakhurst, CA 93644
A second memorial service will be held in Simi Valley on Saturday, August 22 at St. Francis of Assisi Church 11:00 a.m.with a reception immediately following.
Information contained in this story has been provided by Dale’s family.
