James Kipling Miles

James (Jim) Kipling Miles passed away peacefully at hospice on January 27, 2025, in Longview, Washington, with his daughters at his side. Jim was born on November 5, 1932, in Longview, where he spent his formative years and attended RA Long HS prior to enlisting in the US Army. He served during the Korean War and reached the rank of Sargent. During his service he received the Korean Service Medal with three bronze service starts, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. 

Jim was known for his mechanical abilities, and he was what you might call a 'jack of all trades'. He found the perfect career for his wide range of skills in working for the Fred Hutch Cancer Center as their Head of Maintenance, which he retired from in the early 2000's. Even after retirement he continued to strive to learn something new every day, a life skill taught to him by his father, and you would often find him reading technical trade magazines and science journals for fun. 

In his everyday life, Jim embodied kindness, patience, and creativity. He had a quick wit, with a playful sense of humor. He was a wonderful dancer and enjoyed all types of music. He loved the coast, and his family has fond memories of trips to Ocean Shores. He was known to have a sweet tooth—banana cream pie was a particular favorite, alongside a classic strawberry milkshake. He was a meticulous craftsman, creating beautiful jewelry that reflected his incredible attention to detail. He was a natural teacher, patient with others, whether teaching practical life skills like fishing and drywall repair, or sharing his faith, he had a knack for making knowledge accessible and relatable. 

Jim took great comfort from his faith and was deeply dedicated to his faith family and extremely conscientious of his responsibilities as an Elder in his church. His commitment to helping others was evident in everything he did, and he served as an inspiration to all who knew him. 

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 47 years, Frances M. Miles, his daughters, Maureen (Kelly) Muller and Kimberley (John) Mirenta, his stepson Lynn Johnston, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that meant the world to him. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rudyard Kipling Miles and Corrinne Elizabeth Miles; his brother, Donald Justin Miles; his stepdaughter, Linda Johnston; and his beloved niece, Katie Hendrickson. 

A graveside service to honor Jim’s memory will be held on February 22, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Longview Memorial Park, located at 5050 Mt. Solo Road, Longview, WA 98632. All who were touched by Jim's warmth, kindness, and creativity are invited to join us in celebration of his life.

 A religious service will be held at 2:00 PM the same day (February 22, 2025) at the Kelso Kingdom Hall, 403 N. 23rd Ave. (Off Allen St.), Kelso, WA 98626