Richard (Rick) Michael Miller

Rick Miller passed away peacefully shortly after a visit with his immediate family at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in his lungs that took him far too soon. The family was fortunate enough to have some time to spend with him in the week prior to his death and was able to spend some quality time with him. They shared stories, laughs, hugs, and tears with the remaining time they had with him.

Rick was born in Burbank, California to Nadine and Wendell Miller. He was the youngest of four brothers: Wendell Miller II (deceased), Robert Miller, and James Miller (deceased). The family moved to Huntington Beach, where they lived until he entered the USAF after graduating from High School in 1973. He served honorably for four years, receiving a Purple Heart for an injury he sustained to his right eye while flying in a B-52. After he left the military, he attended UC Berkeley and earned a degree in Philosophy. He worked for many years in the service industry as a technician, primarily repairing office equipment.

He moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 and married his wife, Kay. They had two children shortly after, Jennifer (Jenny) and Jeremy. They created a loving, close-knit family. Rick often said that what he wanted most in life was to be a dad. In that respect, he succeeded as a wonderful father in every metric possible. He loved being a dad, from playing princess with Jenny as a little girl, to coaching Jeremy’s baseball and hockey teams, to encouraging, guiding, and sometimes spoiling them every moment he could. He was a truly loving and supportive father. He also picked up many bonus children along the way for just that reason; he was the dad everyone loved. Many of his children’s friends loved to spend time coming over for dinners or just to hang out. He was loved by so many people and had such an immensely positive impact on them. His joy, his whimsical outlook on life, the way he accepted people for who they are, his thirst for knowledge and understanding, his sense of humor, and his ability to find the good in people and extend a hand of kindness to anyone in need were all notable aspects of his character that were admired by many.

As a philosophy major and a very intelligent man, he always encouraged critical thinking and independent thought. He always had wisdom to share and different perspectives to explore. As a lover of rebellion, mischief and whimsy, he taught his children to see the humor in life and approach everything with a sense of fun. He also had a deep love of history, ranging from Medieval history, to Vikings, to American history. He always had a plethora of information and trivia he loved to share on topics he was passionate about.

He is survived by his wife, Kay, his daughter Jenny, his son Jeremy, his brother Robert (Bob), and three sisters-in-law (Barbara Miller, Judy Miller, and Sue Norberg), as well as many nieces and nephews. The funeral and burial will be held on January 23. Please contact his family for details. Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one of their favorite charities:

• American Cancer Society 

• St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 

• The Santa Barbara Unity Shoppe 

• Direct Relief International