Milo Frank DeArmey

Milo Frank DeArmey was born on February 19, 1941, in Lorraine, Ohio. He then moved home to Johnstown with his mother, Lottie DeArmey, to be with family and friends. He lived on his grandfather’s farm and days were filled with trips to their spring fed pool, taking rides on their pony Bucky and Sunday parties at his grandfather’s pavilion. Lunches were filled with extended family coming in from all over for games and festivities. Growing up in Johnstown was filled with fun times and lots of family.

Milo graduated from Conemaugh Township High School in1959 and proceeded to go to college at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. After three years of college Milo and his mother decided to move to California in 1964. They drove across thecountry in his 1958 yellow Ford Thunderbird and settled first in La Mirada and then Anaheim. While in Anaheim, he finished college and embraced his entrepreneurial spirit by investing in and operating several businesses including a Taco Bell and anA&W Root Beer. 

It was in California that Milo met his wife, Donna. No one could have predicted that their chance meeting on a blind double datewould lead to their quick engagement and 52-year marriage and love story. As fate would have it, they were not on that initial date with each other. Milo was with a friend of Donna’s and Donna was with a friend of Milo’s. The next day Milo called to ask Donna out (after getting permission from his friend first of course) and the rest is history. They were engaged a month later and were married at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Los Angeles within four months of their meeting.

Once they were married, Milo and Donna moved to Las Vegas for Milo’s job. At that time, he worked with a personal finance company and developed relationships with many of the Pitbosses in the top casinos. While living there, their oldest son, Michael, was born. Once Milo decided to go to law school, they moved to Sacramento and eventually to Orange County, settling in Huntington Beach where their second son, Matthew, was born.

Milo lived a life of family, community and service, both in the Orthodox Church and in the greater community. He volunteered his time with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, the YMCA Indian Guides, Serving as Great Chief of the Nation, the Boy Scouts of America helping Michael and Matthew become Eagle Scouts and the Huntington Beach Elk’s Club. 

Milo was active at St. Luke’s Orthodox Church in Garden Groveand later was a founding board member of St. Mark’s Orthodox Church in Irvine. Milo also served the greater Orthodox community as a member of The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a charitable organization. 

Milo had several close friends over the years, with each friendship born from a different facet of his life. Milo cherished his relationships with the St. Luke’s Men’s Poker Club and The Wild Bunch who were a group of close friends from Indian Guides who spent years traveling, going to movies, and having fun together. 

When his sons began to leave the house, Donna became focused on activities for herself and Milo to do together to fill the empty nest. She enrolled them in square dancing where they met a new group of people who would become great friends. They traveled all over the country for square dancing, and it became an activity they both enjoyed.

Milo and Donna also became fanatical fans of Anaheim Ducks hockey and Angel’s Baseball, eventually getting season tickets for both teams. Later, taking their grandsons to hockey and baseball games became a family favorite pastime.

The main thing that kept Milo grounded was Family. Weekly dinners, travel, family parties, annual Christmas Eve family gatherings, and 4th of July BBQs at his house were a great source of joy. His grandsons knew him as “Giddu,” which means Grandfather in Arabic, and he was fortunate to spend a lot of time with them and feel the unconditional love they have for him. Dinners with his grandsons, going to their school events and sporting events were a favorite activity for Milo and he refused to miss any of them. 

Milo was proud of his sons becoming successful, both in business and at home. Michael is a commercial real estate developer on the West Coast. Matthew is an attorney who worked with Milo for 20 years and continues the legacy of DeArmey Law. Both have wonderful families and carry on the traditions taught by their parents, including service to others, and love for family and friends. 

Words cannot describe the loss we feel without Milo here on Earth. We are heartbroken at the thought of all the good times and events in the future he will miss. Nevertheless, we take great comfort in the fact he has gone home to the Lord, and to be with Donna and so many relatives who have gone to Heaven before him. Milo was loved by many and will be forever missed. 

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Veterans Legal Institute in Tustin, CA. Milo provided pro-bono legal services to members of the Veterans Institute and was very proud of this charity,

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