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Charles Miranda

Charles Miranda

Jan 6, 1924 - Jul 25, 2015
Charles F. Miranda, 91, of Riverton, died on Saturday, July 25, 2015 in Riverton. A rosary will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at 7:00 pm at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. A funeral is scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2015, at 10:00 am at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church with Father Demetrio Penascoza officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery,

Charles Fredrick Miranda was born on January 6, 1924 in Casper, Wyoming the son of Charles A. and Gertrude (Walport) Miranda. He had a younger brother, James. His parents both had homesteads in the Casper area; his mother’s homestead was close to Mills and his father’s was on Casper Mountain, where the family raised sheep. Some of the other landowners raised cattle. Charles’ father would go out on horseback with a 30-30 rifle and ride their property lines because the cattle ranchers would cut their fences and let their cattle graze on Miranda property. He stopped the wire cutting by firing off warning shots.

In the summertime, the sheep were herded from the Mills homestead to the Casper Mountain homestead 30 miles away. Charles, his younger brother, James and their family spent their summers working on the Mountain. They lived in a cabin and raised a garden.

In the fall they herded the sheep back to the Casper Valley for the fall and winter months, where they cut hay for the winter months.

Charles was in the ROTC and served as a lieutenant. He graduated from Casper High School.

After the family left Casper, they moved to the Pavillion area, where they bought a ranch and raised sheep. It took them 5 days moving with horse and drawn wagons and their sheep. Charles helped his father on the ranch raising sheep and driving the school bus for Wind River High School. Charles enjoyed driving the bus and taking the kids to and from games and other school functions. He sometimes took the kids for ice cream after games, his treat. But the kids probably remember Charles for being strict about safety.

Charles tells the story about how he did some traveling in other countries. An airplane he was traveling on crashed into the ocean and sank, but Charles managed to escape as the plane sank. When he surfaced, he was lucky to catch a ride on a long, which happened to float by. He came ashore on a China beach where there happened to be a Christian Encampment. They helped Charles get on a US ship, which was docked at a nearby town.

Charles met his wife to be, Irene Erickson when he stopped to help he change a flat tire on her car. The couple married in the 1960’s. Charles helped his father on the ranch and also Irene’s parent’s ranch in the Kinnear area. He ran the Kinnear ranch until her death in 1980. A niece of theirs stayed with them for a summer after college classes to help on the ranch. Charles enjoyed sharing his ranch and farm life with young people.

Charles enjoyed helping people when he could, never asking for anything in return.

Charles was on the Riverton Valley Electric Board, Parks and Recreation Board, and a volunteer fire fighter in Kinnear until his retirement.

Charles was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Margaret’s Catholic Church.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Evelyn Miranda; his brother-in-law, Arthur Kinnear Erickson; and numerous relatives across the county.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Gertrude Miranda; his brother, James R. Miranda, and his wife, Irene Erickson-Miranda.

Memorials may be made to St. Margaret’s Catholic School in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 West Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501.

Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.