The Reverend Richard F. Milwee

Obituary Notice

    The Reverend Richard F. Milwee, age 65, of Little Rock, the former Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, died of cancer, July 10, 2004. Milwee was born in Little Rock in 1938, and educated in the Fort Worth, Texas public schools, and graduated from McCauley School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1960 , he graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He attended Seminary at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Massachusetts and in 1965 married Marie. He was ordained by Bishop Robert R. Brown in 1964, and assigned as Vicar at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Benton, and St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Arkadelphia. In the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968, Milwee hosted a Multi-racial interdenominational memorial service in Benton. In 1969 he accepted the position of Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Pine Bluff, where he served until 1981. In that same year Bishop Herbert Donovan tapped Milwee as Archdeacon of the Arkansas Diocese and gave him full administrative oversight over thirty-three mission congregations. In 1985, he became Executive for Development in the diocese as well. Salaries for mission clergy were raised under Milwee's watch and subsidies for missions, which in Milwee's words awarded inefficiency and poor performance, were eliminated and replaced by meaningful grants and loans. Milwee also played a critical and catalytic role in developing St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Little Rock. Milwee served under four Bishops in Arkansas (Brown, Keller, Donovan, and Maze). In the Diocese of Arkansas, he served as a member and chair on the Executive Council, Standing Committee, Committee on Ministry, and Diocesan Task Force on Financial Development. He represented the diocese as a delegate to three General Conventions and was a member of the Board of Trustees of both the Seminary of Southwest in Austin, Texas and All Saints' School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, as well as, the Anglican Digest and Oasis Renewal Center. 

     Milwee was active with the development of Pastoral Care and Education for the University Medical School, the Arkansas Prison Ministry, the State Advisory Commission to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, the Southwest Career Development Center, And numerous conferences on such disparate subjects as alcoholism and transactional analysis. After his retirement in 1998, he continued working with the National Church as a member of the Episcopal Church Building Fund. 

     Milwee is survived by his wife, Marie Milwee of Little Rock, one daughter, Marion Milwee Kingdon and husband Jim of Charlottesville, Virginia, one son John Bradley Milwee and wife Jennifer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an Aunt Rosa Katherine Milwee Hutt of Sherman, Texas, his dog Wallace and his other dog Deuce.

     There will be a funeral service held Monday at 11am at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com

     Memorials, in lieu of flowers, should be made to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in West Little Rock, or to the University of Arkansas Medical Science Center, Department of Psychiatry Building fund, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock 72205.

 


Register Book

  • Dear Ms. Marie, John and Marion, I am so very sorry. My dad called me last night from Seweanee with this terrible news. I know there is not much that anyone can say or do at a time like this. Just know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all is well with the Milwee's of Philadelphia. Once again, I am so sorry. Father Milwee was a fine man and Priest. He will be so greatly missed.
    James R. McLean III 
    Batesville, Arkansas 
    Email: Katieandjames@cox-internet.com
  • We have lost a good friend.
    Bill & Clair Norman
    Crossett, Arkansas 
    Email: wcnorman@cei.net
  • Richard and I were friends at Millsaps. We were  classmates and fraternity brothers. I remember many fond things about him. There were lots of good times then. Though I haven't seen him since college days, I have thought about him.
    Charles R. Brackett
    Jackson, Mississippi
    Email: cbrackett@jam.rr.com
  • Loved you, love the family, am praying for you all.
    David C. McNair 
    Jackson, Mississippi 
    Email: mcnair@treetopsdev.com
  • Richard and I graduated from Millsaps the same day, in 1960, and were members of Alpha Mu chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, and the Canterbury Club. I haven't seen him since graduation but have noted his service in the Church through news articles. He will be remembered in the prayers of the people at St. Philip's Parish in Jackson, and in the prayers of the Mississippi Cursillo and the St. Philip's Ultreya.
    Cecil Copeland 
    Jackson, Mississippi 
    Email: cqpiave@aol.com
  • Marie, I am so sorry about Richard. My thoughts and prayers have been with you. I'm sorry we lost touch with each other and would love to hear from you.
    Ann Breazeale 
    Jackson, Mississippi
    Email: ann501@bellsouth.net
  • Dear Marie and family: I was shocked to hear of Richard's passing from John Hall. I talked to David McNair who brought me up to date on Richard's life. I regret so much my failure to keep in touch over the years. Richard and I were room mates at the KA house. I also knew of your family in Helena since I was born there and my mother's family -- Crabtrees -- go way back there. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your children. Rejoice in Richard's great contribution to his fellow humans.
    Frank D. Allen, Jr.
    Washington, DC 
    Email: frank_allen@msn.com
  •