Blanche Arlene Miles

1918 - 2016

Blanche Arlene Miles obituary, 1918-2016

BORN

1918

DIED

2016

FUNERAL HOME

Valley Funeral Home

2121 West Burbank Blvd

Burbank, California

Blanche Miles Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Oct. 5, 2016.

Blanche Arlene Miles was born in Pender, Nebraska to Joseph Henry and Ida Blanche Phillips on December 2, 1918. As one of eight children growing up in a poor midwest family during the Great Depression, she endured many hardships. Always remembering where she came from, she consistently lived her life with thankfulness for every little blessing, and with tender compassion for others.

Blanche was gifted with a brilliant mind and excelled at everything she did. As a schoolgirl she was highly competitive in State Spelling Bees and writing contests. She enjoyed athletic competition as well, and was a star forward in girls' basketball in high school and college. She graduated from Pender High School in 1936 and was class Salutatorian.

Having a voracious appetite for learning and great enthusiasm for life, Blanche followed her yearning for bigger and better opportunities. At age 17, with $40 from her uncle, she bought the train fare and left home for a new life in California.

Blanche came to live with her maternal aunt, Nettie Cruson, in Fillmore, California in 1936. Although she had attended church as a child, it was her Aunt Nettie that introduced her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Since then, that relationship with her Lord Jesus has been the most important thing in her life.

Blanche began attending Fillmore Presbyterian Church and singing in the choir. She worked at the United Mercantile Store in Fillmore until 1939, when she moved to Los Angeles and attended Biola College for one semester. From 1940 to 1941 she attended Los Angeles City College. During this time, she felt so fortunate to live at Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home. "Clark's Residence" was an elegant, yet affordable, home for young women who had to work for a living.

From 1941 to 1942 Blanche worked as a secretary at California Taxpayers Association in Los Angeles, after being referred by her college shorthand teacher. She was a secretary in 1945 at Walter Peters Grain Co. of Los Angeles. And in 1946 she was employed as secretary to Miss Henrietta Mears at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. For many years, thereafter, she assisted her husband in typing and processing orders for their privately-owned business, Crest Photographic.

Blanche's beloved mother had been forced to quit school in 4th grade, due to illness. During Blanche's school years in Pender, she taught her own studies to her mother, as well. This, no doubt, fostered her love of teaching. At age 50, Blanche returned to college to pursue a teaching career. She was proud and delighted to receive a partial scholarship from the State of California; and her former college credits were accepted toward her Bachelor's Degree. In 1972 she graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Fernando Valley College (later known as Cal State University Northridge).

Blanche sacrificed getting her teaching credential in order to assist her husband in his work, during a period of health problems. From 1973 to 1979 she worked as a Special Education Assistant at Francisco Sepulveda Junior High School in Van Nuys. Here she used all her many gifts and talents to touch the lives of her students in very special ways.

In her early college years, Blanche became active in the college department at Hollywood Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir. It was there that she met Charles Kenneth Miles, her beloved husband of 68 years. They were married on May 9,1942. Charles was stationed away on military duty, during WWII, for the first three lonely years of their marriage.

Blanche and Charles raised three children. Their first son, Ronald, was born while Charles was still in the military. Once her husband's military service was completed, Blanche joyfully and sacrificially pursued one of her finest accomplishments…providing a loving and nurturing Christian home for her husband and family. And in 1958, Charles and Blanche were blessed with the opportunity to build their home in Sherman Oaks, where they happily resided the rest of their lives.

Blanche had a special appreciation for God's creation and enjoyed the outdoors. As a young woman, she hiked to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome. She and Charles went hiking, camping and even deep sea fishing together. Family vacations were mostly spent at the Mojave Desert, Oxnard Beach, Forest Home Christian Camp, or in the mountains at Crestline or Lake Arrowhead.

For her family, Blanche made matching pajamas, hand-braided rugs, and marionette puppets. Creativity was always pouring forth from her in so many various ways including painting or other forms of artwork, sewing, embroidery, cooking, writing, making greeting cards using pressed flowers or leaves, and craftwork of many kinds. She was always an avid reader and loved reading her Bible best of all. She wrote and collected poetry that held sentimental meaning for her. Everything that she did was inspired by love, and she would want all to know that her love was inspired by the Lord Jesus Christ.

She peacefully and gently went to be with her Lord on the morning of October 4, 2016.

Blanche's husband, Charles, preceded her in death in 2011. She is survived by her children: son Ronald of Sherman Oaks, California; son Kenneth and his wife, Eva, of Dodson, Oregon; and daughter Anita and her husband Paul of Burbank, California. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Christina, Aaron, Teresa, Elisa, Naomi, Jonathan, Ruth Anne, and Kelly; and by fourteen great-grandchildren: Brandon, Derek, Kamber, Austin, Hannah Rose, Timothy, Thaddeus, Zachary, Nathaniel, Anya, Amy Faith, Megumi Hope, Makenna Marie and Cameron Rose. Also dear to her: three step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren, as well as numerous cherished nieces and nephews.

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5 Entries

October 12, 2016

David and Rosie McNutt

Beautiful Tribute, Beautiful Photos, Beautiful Lady, Beautiful SOUL!!!! We are so honored to be part of the extended family. All of our happy memories of Mamie's joy, laughter and faith filled love fill our hearts and thoughts and will keep her with us forever. God Bless You --

October 12, 2016

John Dempewolf

I have many precious memories of times with my aunt Blanche, Anita, Ron, and our numerous cousins from Nebraska, Kansas, California,and Washington. She was blessed with a long life, and we were doubly blessed to have her guidance with us for so long. She is the last member of that generation on the Phillips side of the family. She will be greatly missed, as I have turned to her increasingly since my mother, her sister Ethel died. My prayers are with you Ron, Ken and Eva, and Anita and Paul, and all the rest of the family. God Bless!

October 11, 2016

Ed Craven

I was so happy to meet my cousin Blanche for the first time in 2002. I had been researching my family history and found my grand aunt Ida's daughter. She was extraordinarily welcoming to my wife and me and regaled us with stories of my grandfather (her Uncle Elmer) who I had never met. Best of all was her family photo album that included many of our common ancestors. Blanche's photos helped me make connections with my family that I never would have seen. Thank you Blanche. You were a treasure.

Posted by Ed Craven

October 10, 2016

Cathy Dill

The pictures are a real tribute to a very special lady. Fun to see her with the hats she wore. She had a beautiful smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with Anita, Ron, Ken and your families. Was very proud to call her my Aunt. Love and sympathy to you all. Cathy, Russ & family Fremont, Ne

October 9, 2016

pam (Lynda's daughter)

Praying God's Love and Peace are holding you all through this time. Aunt 'Bee' was a sweet, smiling light to me from long ago. Her laughter and easy joy will stay with me always. You are all tucked in my heart. Gently,

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Funeral services provided by:

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2121 West Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506

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