R.D. 'Mike' Milam

R.D. "Mike" Milam died Dec. 1, 2013, at the age of 96. He and his beloved wife of 75 years, Helen, had lived in Bella Vista, Ark., since 1980. Mike was a graduate of the University of Kansas, class of 1938, and a veteran of World War II, when he served as a Naval supply officer. His career in the oil and gas industry spanned six decades, beginning as a "roustabout" in the Cities Service oil fields of El Dorado, Kan. After the war, he joined Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, working as a dispatcher in Chicago, Ill., a field engineer in Hooker, Okla., and the plant superintendent in Minneloa, Kan., and Herscher, Ill. He and his family then moved to Detroit, Mich., where he joined the American Natural Resources Company, where he eventually served as manager of operations responsible for the construction of the Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company. He ended his career in 1980 as senior vice president of that company. He was a member of the Bella Vista Ambulance Board and the Arvest Bank Advisory Board, and was very active in the Bella Vista Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter, Judy Karr and her husband, Jeffry; son, Ron Milam and his wife, Maxine; son, Mike Milam and his wife, Sally; and grandsons, Alex and his wife, Traci, Justin and his wife, Carrie, and Joshua; plus six great-grandchildren, Kirby, Gabriel, Moriah, Jedidiah, Malachi and Maggie. Cremation has taken place through Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Bella Vista Community Church on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at 11 a.m. Helen and the family wish to express their appreciation for the loving kindness and support of Harry Cheek, Todd Mitchell, members of the Bella Vista Community Church, and caregivers, Glenda Klint, Carolyn Lockett, Barbara Peitsch and Sharon Cochran. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made to Bella Vista Community Church or the Wounded Warriors Project.