Rafael was born in El Paso, Texas on June 18, 1928. He was a triplet, the fifth of six children and lived his childhood years in El Paso.

He joined the US Army at the age of 17- at the end of WWII and then later fought in Korea.

He married Gloria Pedraza on October 6, 1956, in Richland. He graduated from California Baptist College in 1962, where he earned his BA, and then went to Golden Gate Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA, where he received his Bachelor’s in Divinity.

He was a social worker for the County of Los Angeles for 23 years.

He founded and was pastor of several churches in California before he and his wife retired in Richland, WA, in 1998. During his retirement, he continued to remain active as the Hispanic Minister at Richland Baptist Church and ministered in the prisons as well as the Union Gospel Mission. He did not fully retire from the ministry until April 2011.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rafael and Maria H. Miranda, and is survived by his wife, Gloria, daughter Debbie Morin, and son David Miranda. Grandsons: Steven and Adam Kathrye, Morin. Granddaughter, Cierra Morin. Great-grandsons: Aeneas and Roman Morin. Brothers: Miguel and Jose Miranda, and his son Joel. Various nephews, nieces and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Hospice at The Chaplaincy in Kennewick or the Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission in Pasco or the Building Fund at Richland Baptist Church.

There will be a visitation at Einan’s in the chapel from 5-8 pm Friday, July 15, 2011. Funeral Services with military honors to be held at Richland Baptist Church on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 2 pm. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial.

The family wishes to express our deepest thanks to the nurses at The Chaplaincy, for their gentle and loving care of Rafael during the final days of his life.