Milford Putney, 95, entered his heavenly reward on March 18, 2023. He was the second of five children born to Arther and Fern Putney.
Milford grew up on a farm homesteaded by his great-grandfather in the mid-1800s near Shelby, Michigan. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1947. Attached to his senior yearbook picture is written “he was easygoing.” He maintained that sense of calmness and steadiness throughout his life. After graduation, a cousin from Howard County encouraged him to live in Indiana. So, Milford and another cousin from Michigan moved to Kokomo. Milford found employment as a machine operator at Continental Steel Corp.
He enlisted in the Army less than three months after the outbreak of the Korean War. As a member of the Army Corp of Engineers, he saw active duty in Korea. He married Ruthanna Sills of Marion while on leave in September of 1951. Following discharge, he returned to his position at Continental Steel, even though moving to Marion.
In 1964, he gained employment with Greene Line Corporation of Marion, which manufactured machinery for corrugated box plants. He served as field engineer for the company, installing and repairing their machinery in box plants throughout the eastern half of the United States. He retired from Greene Line in 1983.
Following retirement, Milford and his wife permanently moved to Intercession City, Florida. Not content to sit and rock in the sunshine state, he drove a school bus for the Osceola County School District for nearly 16 years.
Milford and Ruthanna stayed active traveling and attending holiness camp meetings throughout Florida and the Midwest. After Ruthanna passed away in 2014, his family tried to get him to move closer to where they lived in Virginia. He told them that, as long as he could drive his own car, he wanted to stay in Florida where his memories were of his late wife.
Following a stroke and hip fracture during the summer of 2021, he moved North and lived with his son and daughter-in-law in Lynchburg, Virginia, for the past 18 months. This past February, he was diagnosed with pleural effusion, pneumonia, and a pulmonary embolism. Though putting up a valiant fight, his body could not overcome the combination of all three simultaneously.
He is survived by son, Stephen M. (Sherry) Putney; grandchildren, Ashley Vanderpool, Aaron (Jennifer) Putney, and Adam Putney; and five great-grandchildren with one on the way.
Before getting very sick, his goal was to live to be a hundred. Although he didn’t reach his goal, he willed himself to reach his 95th birthday. He is now at home with his Savior and reunited with his wife of 61 years.
Visitation is from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, March 24, 2023, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
On Saturday, March 25, 2023, Milford’s funeral service will begin at 10:00 am with Rev. James Southerland officiating. Burial will follow at Grant Memorial Park.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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