Ray C. Miller, Sr., 95, of Five Points, Exeter Township, peacefully passed away on July 4, 2012, surrounded by loved ones in his residence.
His wife, Mary A. F. (Mountz) Miller, passed away in 1967. He is survived by his loving companion of 41 years, Esther I. Bedard.
Born in Strausstown, PA on June 30, 1917, Ray was the son of the late Calvin and Mary (Beighley) Miller.
He was predeceased by his three brothers, Earl, John, and Harold, and his sister, Catherine Becker.
In his early years, Ray worked for the Reading Railroad as a brakeman and then as a carpenter and millwright at Car Tech and other businesses under Carpenter's Local 492.
Ray also served in The United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Ray had many interests in life, including motorcycles, traveling, airplanes, and automobiles. It was ultimately his love for motorcycles that led Ray to start his own business repairing motorcycles in the basement of his home in 1959.
In 1962, Ray founded Ray's Motor Service, Inc., most commonly known as Ray's Yamaha, which is celebrating its 50th year in business. Ray rode his motorcycle up until last summer, and until recently, continued to travel and stop by the business daily.
In addition to being known for his motorcycle business, Ray raced motorcycle scrambles and hill climbs and was known as the "Flying Dutchman" when he raced stock cars.
His late wife, Mary, was also quite successful at racing stock cars, and the two of them and their nine children became known as the "Racing Millers."
Ray and Mary's legacy continues through their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as many of them actively race today in the Pagoda and Duryea hill climbs and micro-midget and sprint car races.
Ray was a lifetime member of the Pagoda Motorcycle Club and the Good Sam's Camping Club. He was also a member of the Penn Coachman Club and the Family Motorcoach Association.
Ray's zeal for travel allowed him and Esther to travel to all 50 states and to many other countries.
Ray was also a flying enthusiast who built and flew planes and was a member of EAA Chapter 321.
Ray was predeceased by his son, Harold J. Miller, husband of Nancy Miller, Exeter Twp., in 2007.
Ray's family was very important to him, and he has left behind quite the legacy in the lives of his 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Interment in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
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Published in Reading Eagle from July 6 to July 8, 2012