- Date Of Birth: November 23, 1923
- Date Of Death: December 14, 2012
- State: New Mexico
VAN EATON, MILLER RAY Miller Ray Van Eaton was born on 11231923 on his home ranch at Olive, New Mexico. He was the sixth of nine children born to John Frederick and Hazel Trella Van Eaton. He went home to be with the Lord on 12142012.
He grew up on the ranch in the midst of the Great Depression, helping with all the ranching duties. He was an excellent marksman and horseman, and could ride a horse bareback at a full gallop. He attended country schools through the eighth grade, and then moved to Roswell where he attended Roswell High School. He lived with his older sister Hazel and younger brother Tom while attending high school.
The day after high school graduation, he was sworn into the ArmyAircorp at Fort Bliss in El Paso. He was a proud World War II Veteran, serving with the 5th Air Force, 312th Bomb Group, flying combat missions as a gunner on an A20 aircraft. He was present at the liberation of the Philippines and at the Battles of Leyte and Luzon Gulf. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and his awards included American Theater Award, AsiaticPacific Award, Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and Victory Medal.
After World War II, he attended Texas Tech on the GI Bill and got a degree in Petroleum Geology. There he met and later married Mary Louise Purgason. They were married just short of 50 years before Marys sudden death on January 1, 2000.
After a brief stint on a seismograph crew, he returned to Roswell and worked at the US Post Office until he retired. Together, he and Mary had 6 children which kept him very busy being a baseball coach, taking his kids and their friends to the park, watching dance, piano, chorus, and orchestra recitals, and attending DeMolay and Rainbow Girl initiations and attending track, cross country and football games. Some of his best memories were spent with his family camping and fishing. He also liked to garden and liked to watch the Dallas Cowboys play football.
He was preceded in death by his wife, one son, James Frederick Fred Van Eaton, his parents, his eight siblings, Oliver Van Eaton, William Bill Van Eaton, Annette Traweek, John Frederick Fred Van Eaton, Hazel Van Eaton, Ira Tom Van Eaton, Louise Van Eaton, Gertrude Van Eaton.
He is survived by his children and their spouses, Mary Diane Baker and husband Dave of Austin, Texas, John Lawrence Larry Van Eaton and wife Ginny of Taos, New Mexico, daughterinlaw Barbara Van Eaton of Roswell, New Mexico, Miller Paul Van Eaton and wife Anne of Dripping Springs, Texas, Roberta Hinshaw and husband Steve of San Angelo, Texas, and Karen Elmore of El Paso, Texas.
He is also survived by grandchildren Richard Baker, Andrew Andy Baker, Marnie Rose, Rebecca Frederick, Katie Kleinert and husband Falk, Ryan Van Eaton, Christopher Van Eaton, Daniel Van Eaton, Jessica Hinshaw, Kristen Hinshaw, Luis Rivera and wife Heather, and Keyon Elmore and wife Kaitlyn. Great grandchildren include Gabriel Lefthand, Lena Frederick, and Greysen Elmore.
Special thanks are extended to Karen Elmore, Luis and Heather Rivera, and Gerald Elmore and the staff at Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home for the special care that they have taken of RayDadGrandpa in the last few months of his life.
