Gwen Milam

Gwen (Yoder) Milam was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage IV on July 11, 2001 (the day before her husband’s birthday). Due to its location, it was inoperable and the doctor told us she had approximately three months to live. She fought as long as she could. On her 60th birthday she managed to open her eyes one last time to see her 4 year old grandson give her a kiss goodbye, but four days later, on November 30, 2001, she passed away. She and her husband met on a “blind” date (she had her friend set them up), they would have been married 50 years this September 2014. She finished her Bachelor’s in nursing while pregnant with her second little girl, she was an accomplished violinist, sewed many, many Halloween costumes for her girls and one final one for her grandson (a dinosaur, of course). She volunteered to be her daughter’s high school band nurse and ended up being a second “mom” to many. She then took on the role of Girl Scout Leader for her youngest daughter’s troupe and found she had “adopted” several more daughters. She finally found her calling when she began working in the psychiatric units of local hospitals, then found her place the Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center in Dayton Ohio. While working at the VA she became interested in serving our country, and at 47 years old she joined the USAF Reserves. She was called up in January 1991 to assist in Desert Storm, in the 435th Tactical Air Lift Wing stationed at the Rhein Main Air Base in Germany. Many of her colleagues affectionately referred to her as “Capt Mom”, so again, she had been “adopted”. She later received the rank of Major. She touched so many lives, with her compassion, her smile, her silly faces and her warm hugs. She is greatly missed by ALL who knew her…and nothing has been the same since. We love you and miss you, but are so happy and proud to have had the moments we did with you!