William James Miles
June 28, 1923 - April 24, 2013
Obituary
William James Miles (Ret. Col. USAF)
aka Wildman Willie, The Colonel
1923 – 2013
William James Miles’ progressive outlook on life exhibited such curiosity, wit, and intelligence that chaplains admired him and waitresses swooned. He died peacefully on Wednesday, April 24 of natural causes. He was 89. Born and raised in Seattle, Bill graduated from St. John’s grade school and Lincoln High School in 1941. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Washington and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
As a boy he covered his walls with photos of Ginger Rogers, read comic books about WWI pilots, played with the neighborhood kids at Ross Playfield and called his mother by her first name. Following his dream of being a pilot, he graduated from Army Air Forces Pilot School in March of 1944. This was the beginning of his long and proud military career. During WWII he was stationed in Italy and flew P-38 missions over Eastern Europe. In 1948, he and his gregarious wife Madelyn met at the Cozy Corner Tavern on Whidbey Island and were married within two years. Bill was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and stationed in Japan with his wife and children. His military career also took him to Tacoma, Oklahoma, Alabama, and the Philippines/Viet Nam where he was Commander of the 29th tactical airlift squadron based at Clark Air Base, Philippines. The squadron operated from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Viet Nam where he spent most of his time flying missions that involved personnel transport, equipment and supply airlift and airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and bombing missions. He was proud that none of his men perished.
“Those of us who served with and under him always felt that he enjoyed what he was doing and he enjoyed being associated with the rest of us……especially those of us who were subordinate to him. He trusted us to do our job as best we could and he didn’t impose his personal policies or procedures on us – all he asked was to get the job done. Needless to say, we wanted to get the job done for him.”
– H. Delbert “Tasty” Frieze
Bill was also stationed in Ohio, and did two tours of The Pentagon where he was Deputy Director of Personnel Programs, regularly presenting at Senate/House Defense sub-committee hearings. In 1975 he retired and moved the family back to the Northwest. He spent most of his days at the library reading political news, Rolling Stone Magazine, and checking out Tom Robbins’ books and foreign films. His kids and their friends thought he was pretty cool and he was a great admirer of his grandchildren’s antics and achievements. He was a very much loved husband, dad and (great) grandfather! Politically independent with Kennedy liberal leanings, he believed foremost in the common sense of compassion and human rights. His generous spirit is legendary among family and friends as is his practical thinking and quiet stoicism. In short, he was always there for you.
When Madelyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he lovingly took care of her every need until he reluctantly accepted the fact that she needed to be in assisted living. Even then he was there with her at every meal, every day until her death. William was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Grace Van Well Miles, his wife of 57 years, Madelyn Baldwin, and his sisters and brother and their spouses Bette and Robert Murray, Mary and Guy Graham, and Harry and Florine Miles. His four children survive him: daughters Barbara Miles of Bothell, Sheila Breysse (Matt) of Bothell; Pattie Van Beuzekom ( Erik) of Chimacum and son Jay Miles (Theresa) of Bristow, VA. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Chris Miles (Susan), Matt Miles (Dana,) Sarah and Elizabeth Breysse and six great-grandchildren: Hope, Garrett, Cade, Josiah, Makhi, and Malik. He also leaves behind his brother-in-law and his wife, Bill and Bobbie Baldwin, and a rich assortment of nieces and nephews. A Memorial will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 25 at 10:45am, where he and Madelyn will be placed together. A reception at Maplewood Golf Course in Renton will follow. Remembrances may be sent to the VA Puget Sound Fisher House, 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108. Please sign William’s guestbook online at Bonneywatson.com
Pattie – You really captured his spirit! Sending you all lots of love.
I didn’t know Willliam, but a salute him and the contribution he made to all of us by moving around in the world and making a difference. My condolences to they family.
What a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man. I know how dear was to you, Pattie, and to your siblings. I hope you all may find peace during this difficult time. I know that your dad’s memory will live long in your hearts.
What a wonderful tribute to an amazing man. Every incredible thing about Uncle Willie will be missed, but never forgotten. I am so happy for he and Aunt Madelyn to be reunited. Let the party begin! Much love to you all!
This is a beautiful tribute, Patty. How fortunate for you and your family to have been blessed with such a lovely man in your lives. May you find comfort in all of the wonderful memories you must have.
I will always treasure the memories of Thanksgiving with the Miles family when Pattie and I were in college and I had no place to go. I loved spending time with Madelyn and Bill and the humor that surrounded them, their wonderful imaginative and entertaining daughters. I feel richer having known them.
You did a wonderful job with this obituary, Pattie. I didn’t know Uncle Willie as well as my siblings as I left Seattle before he came back and retired. I did, however, see he and Aunt Madelyn many times when I was younger and several times as an adult when I came back to Seattle to visit. Every word spoken or written about Uncle Willie is so true! I smiled all through reading the obituary! You and your siblings had the privilege of enjoying a remarkably long life with your Dad and now he and your mother are reunited in a better place. My love to you and my cousins and your families as you celebrate the life of this wonderful man.
prayers are with you all thanks for serving
Very nice tribute Pattie. Well done. What a great man. He will be missed.
Beautiful tribute! I remember Mr. Miles fondly as a teenager and I am so happy I was able to see him a couple of years ago when he came to Richmond with his family. My sincere condolences.
Sheila and family,
It was always a pleasure seeing your dad over the years. He was a kind man and had a great sense of humor, we could tell that right away. We know how at tentative you have been to him forever it seems, he couldn’t have had a nicer daughter and family. He was and you all are very lucky in so many ways.
Take care and you are in our thoughts and prayers,
Becky and Jerry
Pattie
Thank you for such a memory stirring tribute. I had the pleasure of getting to know Uncle Bill latter in my life. I feel very fornutate that my sons also had that opportunity. Uncle Bill really gave them a better sense of their own heritage, humor and their Grandma Mary.
What a terrific man.