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Winston H. "Bill"
Miller • 1924 - 2003 Bill was born February 4, 1924, in Mt. Clemens, MI, to Alfred and Victoria Miller. He was raised and attended school in the Mt. Clemens area during the Great Depression and found it necessary like most at the time to drop out of school to work on the family farm. He later returned to school and received his general education degree. He entered the United States Army and served from 1947 through 1950. He worked for two years before re-enlisting in United States Air Force and served as an electrician from 1952 to 1962. He was wounded while serving in Germany and honorably discharged from the Air Force. He returned to the United States and held various jobs including construction work, taxi driver and carpenter. He loved to build things with his hands and was considered by many to be a jack of all trades. Bill could lay brick, do rough carpentry, wire, plumb and even roof. He married Edna Pearson in 1950, and they had one daughter, Hope, and four sons, Gary, Terry, Randy and Mark. Following a long seperation, they divorced in 1969. Bill met Helen Vest in Springfield, IL, and they were married on May 17, 1969. He worked for the Hobbs Electrical manufacturing Company for many years until it eventually closed. He retired in the mid-1980's. His wife Helen died in 1995. Bill continued to live in Illinois and was staying with his children at the time of his death. Bill was a very spiritual person. He believed in the Lord and his Savior Jesus Christ. Everyday, he started out by sitting at the kitchen table and read passages from the Bible. He was not rich monetarily, but was wealthy with a huge heart and was always willing to help others in need. Even with his limited income, it was important to him to contribute as much as he could to various charities which included the Children's Hospital, Detroit, MI, Feed The Children, National Cancer Center, Cancer Recovery Foundation, American Breast Cancer Foundation, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Christian Relief Fund, Fire Victims Fund, National Law Enforcement Fund and the National Wildlife Foundation. He loved to play solitaire, ride bike, go for walks and photograph his family. He was a loving father and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren cherished him immensely. He will be deeply missed by all but always in our hearts. Survivors: five children, Hope Robles, Bay City, TX, Gary (Pam) Miller, North Street, MI, Terry (Vicky) Miller, Glenburn, ND, Randy (Mindy) Miller, Port Huron, MI and Mark Miller, Port Huron, MI; 13 grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Nash, Shawn Wojciechowski, Jose and Jason Robles, Jeanette, Kevin and Keith Miller, Marsha Dickenson, Jason and Destiny Miller, Mark Miller, Jr., Anthony Miller, and Randy Miller, Jr.; one sister, June (Veto) Turrin, Seattle, WA; numerous great-grandchildren, step-children and other relatives also survive. His wife Helen, parents and one sister, Marge Potts, preceded him in death. Funeral Service: A private family service was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND. Memorial Service and Burial: Friday, March 14, 2003,
11:00 a.m. at Oakridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave., Springfield
IL. Music Honorary Bearers: Winston's family and friends |