Donald Ervin Miller

Donald Ervin Miller, age 79, of Bakersfield, CA passed away on April 22, 2017 from cancer. Don spent the last five weeks of his life at the home of his oldest son in San Ramon, CA.

Don was born on September 4, 1937 in Osceola, WI, to Ervin and Mae Miller. Don attended Ames School in St. Paul, MN. During this time, Don spent countless hours with friends at Hazel Park developing his "playground athlete" skills. At Harding High School in St. Paul, MN, he earned All-City honors in football, hockey and baseball. After graduating in 1955, he accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Denver ("DU") in Denver, CO. Playing for the Pioneers, he would earn first team All Skyline Conference honors and an invitation to play in the 1958 East West Shrine senior All Star game in San Francisco, CA. In 2010, Don was honored with induction into the Minnesota Old Timers Football Hall of Fame.

After graduating from DU in 1959, Don earned a masters degree from Sacramento State. Though he worked in several different fields during his life, his passion was always coaching. During the next 35 years, Don coached for several high schools in California and Colorado; Imperial Valley College ("IVC") in Imperial, CA and Bakersfield College (BC) in Bakersfield, CA; the University of Louisiana-Lafayette ("ULL") in Lafayette, LA; and the Sacramento Capitals of the Continental Football League. In addition to the development of countless young men, Don's coaching achievements include the following:

* IVC Wrestling - Head coach, California junior college ("JC") heavyweight state champion (1973);
* ULL Football - Offensive line coach, "Operation Turnaround" era teams that produced ULL's best record in decades (9-2 in 1976), three years removed from a winless season; and
* BC Football - Defensive line coach, JC National championship team (1988).

Don met the love of his life, the former Jo Anne ("Jody") Wattenbarger of Bakersfield, CA, at the Sugar Bowl ski resort lodge. On October 9, 1965, Don and Jody married in Sacramento, CA. Jody preceded him in death on January 30, 2007. Don spent the final years of Jody's life as her primary caregiver as she suffered through a degenerative illness. Don's love for Jody was matched only by his love for his two sons, "David" and "Kenny". Countless hours were spent traveling and camping across the country, practicing and playing youth sports, watching sports on TV, and playing golf as a family.

Don enjoyed playing golf at Rio Bravo country club, bocce and cards at "the Grove", and spending time with family and his many friends in places like Lake Tahoe, CA, St. Paul, MN, Lafayette, LA, Asheville, NC, Evergreen, CO and Gulf Shores, AL.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Mae Miller; his wife, Jody; and his siblings Bill Peterson and Betty Schmidt. He is survived by his sons, Donald David Miller of San Ramon, CA; Kenneth William Miller of Bakersfield, CA; his sister, Carol Johnson of Hudson, WI; his daughters-in-law, Desiree Miller of San Ramon, CA and Jen Miller of Bakersfield, CA; and his four grandchildren, Audrey Rae Miller and Aaron David Miller of San Ramon, CA and Kendall Miller and Hayden Belle Miller of Bakersfield, CA.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Bible Church, 48 Manor St. in Bakersfield, CA at 11 am on Friday, May 5th with a reception to follow at Calvary Bible Church from 12:30 to 2 pm. Friends and relatives are encouraged to attend the service and reception.

Should you wish to make a donation, below is the link for donating to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My Dad was a coach and supporter of this organizations mission which focuses on the spiritual and athletic development of young people.

https://my.fca.org/3181-ca-kern-county-fca.aspx
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At the next screen, under Notes, "In Memory of Don Miller"