Obit of Miller, Ralph Harry - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 16 Nov 2008 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Miller, Ralph Harry Ralph Harry Miller Resident of Berkeley Longtime Berkeley resident, Ralph Miller, died on December 14, 2006, of prostate cancer at Alta Bates Hospital. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 27, 1923, the oldest son of Ralph and Alice Jane Miller. He grew up in Oklahoma City with a passion for sports, especially the Detroit Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners. He graduated from Classen High School in 1940. Ralph attended Colorado College for two years where he was a member of Kappa Sigma and a rare leftie on the fencing team. During World War II he served in the Pacific with the United States Army Intelligence Service, specializing in photo interpretation. He retired from the military after twenty-two years, including time in the Army Reserve where he achieved the rank of Major. After the war, Ralph continued his education in the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. He graduated in 1946. Ralph then moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in advertising. His first job was at the California Packing Corporation (Del Monte Foods) to give him experience in the food product business. It was there that he met his future wife, Virginia (Ginny) Piper. They were married in 1947 and moved to Fresno where Ralph continued to work for Calpak. In 1948 they returned to the Bay Area where Ralph went to work for Batten, Barton, Durstine, and Osborn, in the production department. He later became a copy writer working on the Pacific Telephone, Standard Oil, and PG&E accounts. He eventually became an Account Executive and was named a Vice President in 1970. A man of diverse talents, he was president of the San Francisco Advertising Club and played softball for the BBDO Sweaty Socks. When BBDO's San Francisco office was temporarily closed, Ralph went to work at PG&E as Advertising Manager, where he remained until his retirement in 1989. Ralph is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Virginia; daughter Laurel and friend Felix Locher, Kensington; son Don and wife Mary, El Cerrito; daughter-in-law Gail Miller and grandson Wilson, San Jose; son-in-law Phil Prince, Oakland. He was sadly preceded in death by his younger brother Ed (1989); son Jim (2002), and daughter Allison (2004). He is also survived by cousins Richard Holloway (Jean), Michigan; and Diane Simoes (John), California; as well as ten nieces and nephews in various parts of the country. In 1963, Ralph auditioned for a part in 'Our Town', by Thornton Wilder, to be presented at Berkeley's First Congregational Church. He was cast as Editor Webb and that opened up a whole new life for him. He became active in the Bay Area community theater scene playing every role imaginable with theater groups including: Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley, Contra Costa Civic Theater, the Masquers, the Ross Valley Players, Altarena, the Dramateurs, the Marin Theater Company, the Willows, and Center Rep. He went on to appear in over 150 plays and 1500 performances. After retirement, without time restrictions, Ralph was free to go into other theatrical venues including;: three TV episodes of Nash Bridges, radio and TV commercials, short and industrial films, and several movies, among them the Halloween thriller, 'Village of the Damned'. He recently appeared in 'Carrier', a film featured at the Los Angeles film festival and the still to be released, 'Valley of the Heart's Delight'. During the holiday season for many years, Ralph put on his dancing shoes and performed the role of Drosselmeyer in 'Nutcracker' with the Berkeley City Ballet. He will be remembered as a very believable Scrooge in Center Rep's production of 'A Christmas Carol', a part he played for seven years, for which he won a Shellie Award in 1999. A longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Ralph was its first Lay Moderator. He chaired two fund raising drives, was the radio announcer for the Sunday and Christmas Eve services for many years, served on many committees, taught Sunday School, and was a regular Parish Caller. Ralph's love of sports led him to be involved with the Berkeley Youth Baseball Association for eleven years. He managed Youth and Pony League teams and served as president of the organization. Other civic activities included: president of the Sather Gate Inter-Church Council, president of the Berkeley Recreation Commission, and the Berkeley Public Schools Master Plan Committee. Ralph was a dedicated Giants, 49er's, and Cal fan. He also loved attending opera and theater. He and Ginny were longtime subscribers to the San Francisco Opera. For eleven years they attended summer opera performances in Santa Fe, NM. Ralph, Ginny, and friends Phoebe and Dave Fulmer, attended the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland for twenty-seven years. He loved the several bridge groups with which he played and cribbage games with family and friends. He never lost his intense interest in current events. A memorial service for Ralph will be held on January 13, @ 2:00 PM, at the First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the First Congregational Church/LOV (address above) 94704, to Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley, P.O. Box 663, Berkeley 94701, or to a favorite charity or organization. Published in the Contra Costa Times from 1/5/2007 - 1/6/2007. Published in the Oakland Tribune on 1/7/2007. Published in the San Francisco Chronicle from 1/7/2007 - 1/8/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html