Jim "Jimmie Lester" Milhoan

Jim "Jimmie Lester" Milhoan

Thursday
Posted at 2:00 AM
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Jim "Jimmie Lester" Milhoan, 87, passed away October 1, 2016, at Rogue Regional Medical Center. Jim was born 15 minutes after his twin brother, Jack to parents Rickey and Valerie Milhoan in Medford, Ore. His family lived a few years in Colorado and worked with relatives farming in Delta, Colorado, before returning to the Rogue Valley. Jim's first job was steering a truck through a potato field at age six.

Jim attended school at Central Point Elemantary from third grade, Central Point High School through his junior year, and graduated from Talent High School, one of seven Seniors Class of 1947. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1950 and went to boot camp with his twin brother and best friends in Fort Lewis, Wash. He served as a Sergeant in Salzburg, Austria and was a pitcher on the baseball team for the 11th AAA Battalion and won the Foreign Baseball Championship in 1952. "Never fired a weapon but threw a mean fastball."

Jim met his beloved wife of 60 years, Lois Brittsan Milhoan, after high school and the couple was married after Jim's boot camp, March 15, 1951. After his military service he returned home to Medford where they resided and had two children. Jim worked for Cheney Oregon Lumber Company until moving to southern California in 1957.

Jim worked for Douglas Aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base before moving to the Los Angeles area and working in construction, eventually becoming Vice President of McAlpine Construction in Paramount. Jim and Lois had two more children, and "adopted" a daughter, moving a few times in southern California. In 1980 Jim was hired by his brother-in-law to run Archer's Vineland Service, a towing company serving as an Official Police Garage for LAPD. He later became a corporate owner and retired in 1998, returning home to Medford.

Jim loved to play baseball, basketball, bowling, and golf. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his buddies and loved being a pilot flying small planes. He and his wife square danced and after retiring, traveled to warm locations in an RV during the winter months.

Jim was hard-working and had a great work ethic, exceeding expectations in whatever he tackled. He was an excellent role model and was always working on something, building block walls, furniture, caring for his home, yard, and building model railroads in his train room. He was generous, giving, and although he seemed a quiet man, had many great stories about his exceptional life. Jim was adored and loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Victoria Smith (Ray) of Walnut, Calif.; sons, Russell Milhoan (Cindy) of Canyon Country, Calif., Randell Milhoan of Medford, Ronald Milhoan of Medford; daughter, Debra Cheevers of Placerville, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Smith (Norman) and Nancy Sundman; sisters-in-law, Nancy Milhoan and Charlaine Brittsan, both of Central Point, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews in Oregon, California, and South Dakota. Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife; his twin brother; parents; and two brothers-in-law, E.C. Brittsan and Larry Sundman.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Memory Gardens Memorial Park, Arnold Lane, Medford. www.memorygardensmortuary.com . If memorial contributions are preferred, please send to Veterans Administration, c/o Jessica, Community Resources, 8495 Crater Lake Hwy, White City, Ore. 97503.