Larry Gray Miller

Yadkinville Mr. Larry Gray Miller Sr., 84, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Miller was born in Winston-Salem July 23, 1931, he grew up on a dairy farm in Yadkin County and graduated from Yadkinville High School in 1949 and later from North Carolina State College with a B.S. in Animal Industry in 1953. He married Rosemary Taylor Miller from Enon, NC in 1952 who has been his devoted wife throughout his successful life. He was a member of Enon Baptist Church. Larry took ROTC in college and was commissioned into the Army upon graduation. He was selected to attend fixed wing flight school in 1954 and helicopter rotary wing flight school in 1955. This was the beginning of his 20 year career in the army as a professional pilot, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1973. In Aviation he was qualified as a Flight Instructor in many aircraft, an instrument Flight Examiner in fixed and rotary wing aircraft, an Engineering Flight Test Pilot from the Navy Test Pilot School and a Master Aviator. He received many rewards including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak-Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal for Valor, the Air Medal with eleven Oak-Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak-Leaf cluster, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver-Star, and the Vietnam Service Medal. In addition to serving in eight different states, he served three years in Germany, one year in Iran and two years in Vietnam. After retiring from the Army he taught ROTC at Parkland High School for one year. He then had a successful career with NC Farm Bureau for 21 years starting in 1974 in Yadkin County as an Agent and moving to Surry County in 1978 as Agency Manager. He achieved numerous service awards including Rookie of the Year for the entire state of NC, won the Round Table for 20 years and the All Star for 20 years before retiring in 1995. Larry then became Owner/Manager of the Yadkin Country Club for several years where he loved playing golf and serving the community. In addition to his parents, Mr. Miller was preceded in death by four sisters, Sallie Virginia Steelman, Bertha Lee Barnowsky, Gaynelle Sizemore, and Christina Marie Miller; and three brothers, Grady Miller, Sr., Charles Miller, and John (JK) Miller. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Rosemary Taylor Miller; three children, Dara (Jim) Stockton, Larry (Donna) Miller, Jr., and Danny (Cindy) Miller; ten grandchildren, Jennifer (Billy) Langley, Sarah (Warren) Robertson, Jonathan Jones, Samuel Jones (Amelia Williams), Doug (Trista) Schimmeck, Josh Miller, Ryan Miller, Nathan Miller, Justin (Lindsay) Miller, and Jessica Miller; seven great grandchildren, Dillion, Noah, and Adaira Langley, Westley Ellerbee, Lorelei Schimmeck, Kylie Miller, & Baby Langley (due in October); two brothers, Jerry (Gundy) Miller and Bill (Sue) Miller; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 2:00PM at Enon Baptist Church with Rev. Mark Elmore officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors provided by NC National Guard Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 5:00 to 7:00PM at Gentry Funeral Service in Yadkinville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Enon Baptist Church Building Fund, 6321 Old Highway 421 East Bend, NC 27018. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Dr. Mann, Dr. Jackson and Yadkin County EMS for the wonderful care given to Mr. Miller. Online condolences may be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com. Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Miller family.