APS Affiliate No 100

Founded May 1, 1979 by John M. Howell

Incorporated October 21, 1999

About MPPC -- Memoriam to Members -- Ray Milling

Ray Milling (1922-2003), MPPC #32

Ray was born July 7, 1922 and passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on Monday, January 20, 2003 at about 4:00 AM. Ray had sustained a minor injury from an earlier fall at home and he was admitted to the hospital. He was recovering well and preparing to return home when his health took a drastic about face. His sudden passing was a shock for the family.

Ray is survived by his wife, Junko Nohara Milling; a son, Michael Milling; a daughter, Deborah Ann Rivera; son-in-law Ron Rivera; and two grandchildren Mark and Jon-Michael Terlaje.

A private service was held on January 24, 2003 at the Lutheran Church of Guam which is within view of the sea. Ray absolutely loved the sea. He was then laid to rest in the United States Veterans Cemetery in Piti, Guam.

Ray was a veteran of World War II, serving in the US Navy. Because Ray loved the sea so much, he decided to settle in the Pacific island of Guam after the war with his wife. One of Ray’s many pen pals, Steve Pavlina, used to say that Ray’s house was made of concrete walls several inches thick. This was to protect his home from the ravages of the occasional hurricane which passed by Guam.

Ray had MPP #1 from Guam and used it extensively over the years. He was one of the earlier stamp collectors to acquire an MPP cancel before MPPs became more popular in 1978 due to changes in US postal regulations. Ray first started using his MPP from Guam in 1970. Ray had many pen pals whom he corresponded with regularly, especially several MPPC members.

A tireless supporter of MPPC, Ray mailed Volume 1, Number 4 of Permit Patter using his Guam MPP. Ray served as MPPC Vice President from June 1981 to August 1982. He went on to serve as interim President from August 1982 to December 1982 after the resignation of then President Jim Eakins. Ray also sponsored numerous collectors for MPPC membership. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not that Ray’s life member number was only one off from his regular membership number.