Rev. William Edward Miles

The Reverend William Edward Miles died on March 29, 2021 at Kobacker House in Columbus, Ohio. He was born at the Newark, Ohio City Hospital on March 9, 1937 to George H. (1909-72) and Edna Marie (1915-72) (Rutledge) Miles, Utley; grandparents were William (Will) H. Educator (1865-1944) and Lora (Larason) (1881-1921) Miles; Edward S., MD (1863-1945) and Margaret M. (Bullock) (1883-1972) Rutledge; siblings are Barbara A. (1935-2001) (George) (1947-2002) Berdine; Mary M. Daniels, Reynoldsburg; Rolan Dean (Pat), Reynoldsburg; Stephen R. (1942-2013) and Georgann (1945-2006) (Frank) Blair. Also fondly remembered is Laura (Pigg) Miles (1876-1963), step-grandmother. Preceded in death by his son, David Perry. Bill is survived by his children, Shawn Peter (Judy) of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Betsy Aleace (Dave) Dodds, of Glen Carbon, Illinois; grandchildren, Ashley, David II, Nicholas, Benjamin, Jacquelyn, Jim and Paul. Mr. Miles, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), graduated from the Johnstown-Monroe High School in 1955. A Bachelor of Art in Psychology was earned at Ohio Northern University (ONU, Ada) in December 1963; a Master of Divinity (1970), Master of Art (MA) in Christian Education (1983) and a MA in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Ministry (1988), at The Methodist Theological School in Ohio (METHESCO, Delaware). Also completed were professional workshops and certification programs through the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin, the Alban Institute, The Pendle Hill Quaker Retreat Center (Phil.) and others. Bill served small rural Methodist parishes early on. As a UCC clergy, serving full-time in Nekoosa, WI and as a professional Interim Minister Specialist to many other churches, helping them to sort out root causes of problems they were having. These churches were in Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Wisconsin and Idaho. At one point Bill was the director of a five county Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency in the Eastern Uppers Peninsula of Michigan and then Executive director of an eight county Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency in the Mid-Michigan area. He was a member of the state coordinating agency association executive committee for seven years and president two years, the first to serve a second term as a president. Rev. Miles was an elected delegate from The Wisconsin Conference, to two UCC General Synods (national meeting). During church service years, was a member of many conference and association committees, finishing ministry as a part time clergy staff member of the First United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska very briefly, health issues causing resignation. This was the church of his membership (1958-60) while serving in the army medical corp. (E-5) at Fort Richardson (outside of Anchorage). In the years after retiring, Bill served on or chaired local church, association and conference committees; was a member of a Community Library Board of Directors in Sangerville, Maine, at one time the chair; sang in various church choirs and the Northern Singers (ONU); was an instructor in the interim minister’s network and mentor to students in the program. Contributions for various programs designed for continuing in the years after death was established. Bill also volunteered in various other church and community organizations, including volunteering as a state licensed EMT on the Harrison MI ambulance service and leader of a public school community support group in Nekoosa, WI. Being an avid cross country and alpine skier, and a certified volunteer member of the National Ski Patrol at the Snow Snake ski area in Harrison, MI for several years, people often thought him crazy to be praying for more snow. Bill served as a ski instructor for the patrol and in a community college. Mountains lifted his spirit to high places, which foretells extensive experience as a mountain climber/hiker in the United States and international mountains. Travel was a passion. Extensive exploration was done in all fifty of our states. Travel was done in all Provinces of Canada except The NW Territory and in nearly sixty other countries around the world on all continents except Antarctica. Bill loved life; to explore, to help people, to lead or follow as the need presented itself; SCUBA diving among sharks on the Great Barrier Reef; riding camels in the Sahara Desert Morocco; climbing to the top of Ayers Rock, Australia; hiking extensively in various great deserts, the Amazon, and mountain ranges and cities of the world. A deep interest in the universe and world was always present; in the stars, trees, wildflowers, birds and other animals. The most important interest was in giving support to the people of the many wide expressions of faith; Islam, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, Alaskan Native and many others around the world. He had been heard to say, “We are one in the spirit of love and acceptance, love one another, no matter how their faith is expressed.” After visiting Nazi concentration and killing camps in Germany and Poland, Bill had been heard to say, “We think we are past that mind set, but are we really?” Also saying, “If we could only learn that we are not ‘right’ in our beliefs we are richly a part of one another and all of life around us in love and hope! We only survive and flourish when we work together for the good of all in Peace.” Bill would want it said that he was not even close to being perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but attempted to be a servant of his God, and of the church within the realms of possibilities found therein. God has forgiven! May all realize and accept that same Grace, Hope and Peace. Be at PEACE! Amen. Visiting hours will be held Monday, April 5, 2021 from 1pm-2pm at St. Michael’s United Church of Christ, 2495 Bickel Church Road NW, Baltimore, Ohio 43105 with funeral service to follow at 2pm. Interment will be at Green Hill Cemetery, Johnstown, Ohio following cremation. Day Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Reverend William Edward Miles.

Rev. William Edward Miles

March 9, 1937 - March 29, 2021