Raymond I. Skip Millar

Raymond Irving “Skip” Millar Jr., 81 of Providence, Voluntown, CT, Westerly, and more recently Zephyrhills, FL, died May 27, 2011. He was the son of Raymond Irving Millar, Sr. and Muriel Edna (Meyer) Millar. Ray or “Skip” as he was known by friends and family was born June 20, 1930 in Providence, RI. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict in Karlsruhe, Germany. While growing up, he summered with his parents and grandparents on Beach Pond in Voluntown, CT, and eventually established his own home on near-by property where he lived until retiring to Westerly, RI. Feeling the call of the road, Ray purchased a converted bus motor coach and commenced to travel as a “full timer”, seeking hidden points of interest over the entire U.S. mainland. He wrote a monthly letter, BusOne on the Road to his friends, sharing in fine detail the sights he saw and the things he learned; creating a fascinating travelogue of memories shared by his “Bussin’ Buddies” and stay at home friends. Ray was civic minded. Wherever he lived, he worked to elevate community spirit and was committed to public safety projects. He was chairperson of the 250th anniversary celebration of Voluntown, CT. He served the town as part-time tax collector, chief of police, and state certified fire marshal. He was the town director of emergency management services, a member of the Voluntown Fire Dept. for almost 50 years, a selectman, chairman of the Voluntown Republican Town Committee and a member of the school building committee. After moving to Westerly he became active with the Westerly Fire Dept. Professionally, he was an appraiser/adjuster for Central Adjustment Service, Norwich, CT. Finally, responding to his true independent nature, he became self employed as an insurance adjuster with his own Coastal Claims Service, based in Groton, CT. In addition to being survived by his son, David Hanson Millar and his wife Jennifer; his daughter Deirdre Ellen (Millar) Hearnen and her husband David A. Hearnen, their two sons, Patrick and Jake, and his first wife Judith Williams, he leaves his brother Richard I. Millar and his wife Patricia, their children Dana, Narda, Leah, Lorna, their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons, his companion Nancy Hopwood and numerous cousins mourn his passing. Ray was predeceased by his second wife Elizabeth Goyette, and BusOne traveling companion Patricia Coderre. Funeral arrangements: A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 27 Babcock Ave., Plainfield, CT, on Weds 6/1/11 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Voluntown Fire Dept. or the Westerly Fire Dept.