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RADIOALUMNI.CA |
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CANADIAN EPICS IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION ALUMNI WHO LIVED THE ADVENTURE OF RADIO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHISTS - SPARKS - RADIO PIONEERS RADIO OPERATORS - RADIO TECHNICIANS RADIO TECHNOLOGISTS - RADIO ENGINEERS RADIO INSPECTORS - SPECTRUM MANAGERS |
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ÉPOPÉES CANADIENNES EN RADIOCOMMUNICATION LES ANCIENS QUI ONT VÉCU L'AVENTURE DE LA RADIO TÉLÉGRAPHISTES SANS FIL - PIONNIERS DE LA RADIO OPÉRATEURS RADIO - TECHNICIENS RADIO TECHNOLOGUES RADIO - INGÉNIEURS RADIO INSPECTEURS RADIO - GESTIONNAIRES DU SPECTRE |
Al Miller has contributed to this site and I believe Laval Desbiens has been in contact with him on several occasions. When I was in Penticton in August I went to see Larry Nelson. Larry`s daughter told me that Al Miller was organizing a special dinner in honour of Larry (who is age 99). I sent an email to Al to ask him to let us know about the event but in his response he said he could not arrange the dinner because of poor health. Sadly, just a month later, we learn that Al passed away on October 1. 73 John Gilbert
Obituary published in the Penticton Herald on October 10, 2012
Albert (Al) Henry Miller, our father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of October 1st, surrounded by his loving family; son Glenn, daughter Kate, son-inlaw Bob and dear family friend, Ona.
Al was born to Joyce and William Miller, both recent immigrants from London, England, in Fruitland, Ont. In 1926, when he was ten, the family crossed Canada by train and bought a farm near Victoria, which they lost a year later due to unfortunate circumstances and legal fine print. They then moved to Vancouver, where his father found work on the construction of the new Lions Gate Bridge.
Al grew up in Vancouver through the depression and, although life was sometimes difficult, he found ways to help his family collecting firewood and roller skating up and down Granville Street selling newspapers. During this period he developed a passion for the newly developing field of radio.
At 17, he received his amateur radio license, VE7KC which set the course for the rest of his life, and he soon turned his passion into a career in the newly burgeoning technology of aircraft radio directional finding. Among many firsts, he was involved in the installation of the first Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in BC at both the Vancouver and Victoria International Airports.
He married Margaret in 1940 and they lived in Victoria for a year where he worked for Spencer's Dept. Store repairing radios. His career took him to work on the William J. Stewart Hydrographic Survey Ship as the radio operator, and then with the D.O.T (NAV CANADA) in Crescent Valley, Vancouver, Sidney, Penticton, Frobisher Bay, NWT, and finally back to Penticton in 1966.
He and Marg loved the Okanagan Valley and made it their home for the rest of their lives. Even after retirement, Al's sense of adventure had him taking short term jobs in Contwoyto Lake, NWT, for PWA, and, with Marg, as a relief Forestry Lookout on Mt. Kobau near Osoyoos. Al and Margaret loved to travel and after an early retirement they traveled to the UK several times, as well as Europe, Australia and New Zealand where he always made a point of meeting up with his world wide circle of Ham friends.
In 2001 he traveled to Shanghai, China, to visit two of his grandchildren who were living there, and in 2008, at age 92, he joined his family in a final winter vacation to Mexico. Al gave much to his community, volunteering his time and talents. He was an avid member and supporter of the Penticton Amateur Radio Club, the Seniors Computer Club (where he taught an introductory course), the South Okanagan Genealogical Society and a long time member of both Kiwanis and Shrine. He served on the Penticton Beautification Committee and volunteered for 39 of the 40 years of Penticton Ironman, missing only this past year due to illness.
Al lived a long and full life, and his friendly smile and keen interest in the world will be dearly missed by his many friends and family. He has left us all with an abundance of cherished memories of his love of life. He was predeceased by his wife and best friend, Margaret in 2004.
He is survived by his son Glenn (Diane) of Vernon, his daughter Kate (Bob) of North Saanich, long time family friend and honorary daughter Ona, grandchildren: Kirsten, Meghan, Robin, Scott, Brent, Sheilagh and Christine, and great grandchildren: Brandon, Mathew, Alexis, Ethan, Ben, Connor, Emma and Isaac.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the exceptional care our father received from Dr. R. McIntosh, the Palliative Home Care team of nurses and caregivers, as well as from the 3rd floor Medical/Day Care Surgery staff at PRH, where he received his transfusions. We are especially grateful to Laurie for her care and kindness. A Remembrance Celebration of Al's Life will be held on October 20th at 2:00pm at Everden Rust, 1130 Carmi Ave., Penticton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Penticton & District Hospice Society, PO Box 1105, Penticton, BC, V2A 6J9
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Related Links Vancouver radio 1945-48 ( from Al Miller ) Vancouver radio 1945-48 ( de Al Miller )
Tribute to Al Miller ( from his daughter Kate Iredale ) Hommage à Al Miller ( de sa fille Kate Iredale )
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