Richard Gale Milligan (Dick) joined his wife Eleanor (Ellie) and his oldest daughter Sandy in the arms of Jesus on Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at 7:00pm near Cottonwood AZ. He lived and served God in North County San Diego most of his life, but lived in Arizona for the last 27 years. He was 95.

Dick was born in Marion, Ohio, and spent most of his childhood there with his two older sisters, Margaret and Barbara. He lost his mother, Elizabeth, to pneumonia when he was five years old. His father, Barney, eventually remarried Alice Eichsteadt who he would call his mother until her passing at 95 years of age as well.

The family moved out to Phoenix for a short time, but Barney, finding it too hot for his taste, moved the family on to San Diego where they remained for many years.

Dick met Ellie on a blind date, and they married in September of 1950. Ellie worked as a dental assistant putting Dick through Berkley to get a bachelor's degree as an electrical engineer. He went on to work for Convair, General Dynamics and Rohr. Early in their marriage they moved to New York where he worked for General Electric. They had their first two children there, Lloyd and Sandy. They eventually moved back to San Diego where they had two more children, Cheryl and Franci. Dick blessed his kids by putting them all through Christian school.

Many summers were spent camping, rafting down the Colorado River and hiking in the Sierras with family friends. When the kids moved out, Dick and Ellie traveled the world and visited friends and family, driving 300,000 miles in their motorhome all across the US over the next 20 years.

Dick and Ellie retired to Clarkdale, AZ, in the late 90s where Franci and family had moved a year or two previously. Eventually Alice, Sandy and Margaret followed. Alice lived with them until her passing in 2000. Dick and Ellie both volunteered at the local hospital for many years.

Dick and Ellie lost Sandy to cancer in 2013, but she had been living with them for 6 years and they all enjoyed each other's company.

Ellie passed away in 2017. Dick stayed in his Clarkdale home, eventually having a caregiver there. He moved into a retirement home in 2021 where he stayed until he had a heart attack Christmas night of 2023. He wasn't able to walk after that, so he went into an assisted living home nearby in early 2024 where he received good care for 9 months and eventually passed.

He was a gentle, quiet, Godly man of peace leaving a Godly legacy as promised in Exodus 34:7: “I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.” He was a recipient of that love, and over two generations of vibrant Christians continue on in the legacy of Dick and Ellie Milligan.

Dick is survived by his 3 children, Lloyd, Cheryl and Franci; his 11 grandchildren and his 24 great grandchildren.

He was a frugal yet generous man who was even more generous when his wife helped him give more.

His last journey is now complete and he has heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”