Birth date: Oct 29, 1947 Death date: May 10, 2022
Richard David Miles, Jr., 74 passed away peacefully at home on May 10, 2022 from a rare cancer. He was born on October 29, 1947 in Bunkie, LA. He was predeceased by his parents Sadie Antoinette and Richard D. Miles, Sr., and broth Read Obituary
Pam, Judy and I send our sincere condolences! Richard was a great scientist, man and friend. From the many hours spent studying biochemistry together, weighing birds and we cannot forget the homemade biscuits many fond memories were made that will last forever. His scientific contributions were felt globally and his big smile and big heart made friends wherever he traveled. Thanks for the memories!
Dr. Miles was one of my professors in the Poultry Science department at UF. I enjoyed the time spent with him in class as well as at the Poultry Unit where I worked as an assistant to Dr. Sloan. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed.
David was my oldest cousin and one that we all looked up to as children. He was smart and like a leader for us when he would visit our grandparents with his younger brother, Leonard Wayne, and two younger sisters, Frances Ann and Sarah Ann. How much fun we had when our cousins from Texas would also join us at our grandparents for a summer vacation or holiday visit.!
We lived in a small Southern town in Louisiana which was a typical reflection of Americana, very much like Maryberry, Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opee, and the entire cast and character of the Andy Griffith Show. What great times we had in those days.
One of my lasting memories of David and Wayne was how they liked to bring us smaller children to the evening double-feature at the local movie theatre, about five blocks from home. The boys always wanted to see the horror movies of the day! As we would safely return home at night, David and Wayne would wait until we got to the darkest area of the walk - caused by the thick crepe myrtle trees along the sidewalk. They would scare us by running ahead and jumping out of the bushes. It would cause us little ones to scream like murder and run all the way home, out of breath, trying to tell the adults what happened. Just a lasting memory of childhood..........
David was a gifted scholar who achieved Master and Doctorate degrees from Arkansas and Purdue universities. The family was so proud of him. In my own studies, I used to remember him as an encouragement most often. Through the years he distinguished himself as a respected professor, research analyst, and international consultor and lecturer. He was equally a wonderful husband to his devoted wife,Pam. I assure her of my kind thoughts and prayers at this time.
Please know that I will offer personal prayers for David and the entire family in the days and months to come. God bless you all, Fr. Scott Chemino, JD, JCL .
.
Chef, ballplayer, friend, and expert in the poultry industry. He shared his knowledge about many things and always with a smile and laughter. So many years ago, but still vivid in our minds of the many happy times with both Richard and Pam. Bless you both. Tom and Janet Batt.
Thoughts and Prayers for the family🙏🏻 47 years ago I cheered on the softball team at Purdue as a child and I’m sure I use to bug Pam while she was keeping score. Today my daughter graduated from Purdue with Animal Science degree. While attending the graduation ceremony my father mentioned calling Richard. So sorry for your loss!
Cathy Batt Logan
I first met Mr. Miles 20 years ago and he told me that I was gonna be his lawn mower mechanic LOL and I was every since that day. I spent many days with him at his hunting camp and enjoyed his company and his attention to detail. He would always let me bring my niece and nephew out to hunt and my niece harvested her first deer there and my nephew also had a couple lucky hunts there as well. I took my son there for his first hunt also he got to see some turkeys and a few deer, great times there with Mr. Miles. He would always give a tip when picking up his mower even though I told him not to haha. When our son come along he would always say the tips were for his College fund so that’s where they went. He would always give my son a little note with any school donation. I will miss our times at the hunting camp and clock restaurant for breakfast. I will also miss being his mechanic. We lost a great friend and person. Thanks for the memories, Chad N
I am one of the students who got a poultry science degree from UF while the Poultry Unit was still in existence. I also worked on the unit after I graduated. I would run into Dr. Miles from time to time at different nutrition events around the area. It was always good to see him and he always remembered who I was. He was one of the "good guys" and will be missed.
