Allen Miller

Allen H. Miller, 97, a resident of Davenport, Iowa died on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Crest Health Center in Davenport.

A memorial service for the celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 13, 2014 in the Koenig Chapel at Ridgecrest Village, 4130 Northwest Blvd. in Davenport.  The family will greet friends from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. Saturday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ridgecrest Village Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church of Davenport.  McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.

Allen was born on May 14, 1917 in Dubuque, Iowa, to Robert and Monica (Jaeger) Miller.  He married Irma C. Gere on September 28, 1940 in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  In 1943, they moved to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area which they called home for 65 years.

Allen joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  From there, he was sent to Washington, D.C.  There he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Signal Intelligence Unit to conduct analysis of encrypted Japanese navy ship-to-shore messages and to provide signal intelligence to U.S. Forces in the Pacific for use in strategic planning.  His intelligence unit was awarded battle ribbons for their contribution during the Battle of Midway.

After discharge, Allen continued to serve the Navy as a civilian until his transfer to the newly established National Security Agency (NSA).  With a degree from George Washington University in Business Management, he conducted management studies for the Director of NSA.  He established and managed a worldwide field research program.  This involved environmental testing of experimental communication systems to determine their suitability for operational use.

Allen was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in Lanham, Maryland.  He enjoyed coordinating the building of the new church, working on church improvements, most especially in designing and installing a beautiful wood and art-glass main entry in memory of their son, Larry.  Among Allen’s other interests were active membership in the Association of Foreign Intelligence Officers and the NSA Cryptoligic Museum.  He retired in 1975 after 33 years of government service.

Allen and Irma were persuaded by their Davenport families to move back to Iowa in April of 2004.  They joined the First Presbyterian Church of Davenport and loved supporting its Fine Arts Program.  The enjoyed their home and many new friends at Ridgecrest Village of Davenport.  Al enjoyed singing in the men’s choir, attending men’s Bible study and dining with his friends whom he referred to as his Ridgecrest family.

Allen’s families will deeply miss their gracious uncle who was always ready to share good times together.  He is survived by his niece, Berdie (Paul) Miller Williams and his nephews, John (Diane) Gere and Perry (Julie) Gere, all of Davenport and Tom Geoge of West Des Moines, Iowa.  His great and great-great nieces and nephews will always remember him with fondness.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 2005; his son, Larry A. Miller in 1993; his brothers, Lamar Miller and Robert Miller Jr.; his sister, Naudaine Brosky; his nephew, Mark Miller; and his niece, Sharon George.