Edward Arnold Milam was born Sept. 6, 1939 in Louisville, Kentucky and passed away Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023 in Bevil Oaks, Texas.
Growing up, Ed loved sports, especially basketball and played the clarinet in the marching band for Manual H.S. He went to Maryville College and then joined the United States Air Force where he was in the NASA Astronaut Program and School of Aerospace Medicine. He graduated at the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science degree. After college, he married Janet Kathleen Brian and moved to her home state of Texas and started a family of five children. He became an oil and gas drilling contractor, drilling engineer specialist, and trouble shooter for ODECO in Texas and Australia. His favorite pastime was hunting, fishing, and telling tall tales around the campfire. He also loved to hike, travel and just being outdoors with his children. He was larger than life, just ask him! He once hiked 700 plus miles on the Pacific Rim Trail from Mexico to Yosemite Park in California. His core beliefs were – God, country, family, John Wayne, and the Houston Rockets and Astros for Life!! He was also very proud that he had helped work on NASA projects while he was at Brooks AFB where he worked in the radioisotope labs. He was raised in a loving Christian home by Annie and Ted Milam who taught him about Jesus. Ed went on to become a Mason in his adult life as did his father. He was a good husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and child of God. He will be forever missed, but he is sitting at the feet of Jesus united with his precious wife, son, mother and dad.
He is survived by his children, Rebecca Collins and husband, Randy, James Milam and wife, Tamara, Ellen Brunet and husband, David, John Milam and wife, Charlotte; nine grandchildren, Lauren Whitten, Nolan Collins, Hailey Lauderdale, Stephen Rousset, Jacob Benjamin Milam, Brittney Drinkard, Kristen Drinkard, Jessie Drinkard and Trevor Milam; six great-grandchildren, Layken Whitten, Skylar Whitten, Brayden Collins, Emma Lauderdale, Abby Lauderdale, Mason Lauderdale; sister, Mary Catherine Harryman; niece, Carey Miller; great nieces, Lauren and Kelsey Miller; and great-great-nephew, Liam Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Kathleen Milam; son; Dean Oliver Milam; and parents, Theodore and Annie Milam.
The family received friends from 10-11 a.m. Friday, Mar. 17, with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. at Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home in DeQuincy. Rev. Ben West officiated. Inurnment followed at Bilbo Cemetery in Singer, Louisiana.
Arrangements were handled by Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home, 1810 W. Fourth St., DeQuincy.
(Paid Memorial)
