Melvin A. Miller, 95, a resident of Willow Estates, Penn Laird, and formerly of Goods Mill, passed away May 8, 2013, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Miller was born April 18, 1918, and was the adopted son of the late Charles Edward Miller and Bessie Anderson Miller. He was born to the late Olethea Mae Arey and Oscar Huffman Arey. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Marquerite Arey Bauer, two brothers, Lester Leon Arey and Cecil Huffman Arey, and a daughter, Judith Lee Miller Rodeffer.
He graduated from Port Republic High School. He purchased his first farm in 1940 and was a successful full-time farmer until 1996 when he moved to Park Place at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. He continued to farm part time and parked his tractor the last time in 2004. Early in his life, he worked for the pickle plant in Harrisonburg. He worked for several years for Dupont in Waynesboro, Va., after which he spent 29 years working for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as a surveyor. One of his greatest accomplishments was the surveying and construction of the Swisher Dam.
A member of the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren, he taught Sunday school for 20 years. Melvin had been active in community service for many years. He loved the Rockingham County Fair and served as its president in 1980 overseeing the planning of the fairgrounds at its current location. He was a charter member of the Cross Keys-Mill Creek Ruritan Club, where he had 65 years of perfect attendance. He served as club president, zone governor and district governor. He was an avid Redskins Fan.
He was united in marriage on April 29, 1938, to Hilda Baker Miller, who survives. This year they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Gerald Arey Miller and wife, Betty, of Ames, Iowa, Neil Edward Miller of Goods Mill and Kevin Edward Miller and wife, Peggy, of Williamsburg; and a daughter, Darla Lynne Miller and life companion, Rebecca Tate, of McGaheysville. He is also survived by three granddaughters and one grandson, Sonja Rodeffer Baker, Tamara Elizabeth Miller, Teresa Miller Kirilyuk and Brandon Arey Miller. He is also survived by five great-grandsons, nine great-granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren with pastor A. Lee Kinsey. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends Friday, May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Building Fund, 7600 Port Republic Road, Port Republic VA 24471, or the Cross Keys-Mill Creek Ruritan Club, 5094 Battlefield Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
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Melvin A. Miller, 95, a resident of Willow Estates, Penn Laird, and formerly of Goods Mill, passed away May 8, 2013, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Miller was born April 18, 1918, and was the adopted son of the late Charles Edward Miller and Bessie Anderson Miller. He was born to the late Olethea Mae Arey and Oscar Huffman Arey. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Marquerite Arey Bauer, two brothers, Lester Leon Arey and Cecil Huffman Arey, and a daughter, Judith Lee Miller Rodeffer.
He graduated from Port Republic High School. He purchased his first farm in 1940 and was a successful full-time farmer until 1996 when he moved to Park Place at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. He continued to farm part time and parked his tractor the last time in 2004. Early in his life, he worked for the pickle plant in Harrisonburg. He worked for several years for Dupont in Waynesboro, Va., after which he spent 29 years working for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as a surveyor. One of his greatest accomplishments was the surveying and construction of the Swisher Dam.
A member of the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren, he taught Sunday school for 20 years. Melvin had been active in community service for many years. He loved the Rockingham County Fair and served as its president in 1980 overseeing the planning of the fairgrounds at its current location. He was a charter member of the Cross Keys-Mill Creek Ruritan Club, where he had 65 years of perfect attendance. He served as club president, zone governor and district governor. He was an avid Redskins Fan.
He was united in marriage on April 29, 1938, to Hilda Baker Miller, who survives. This year they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Gerald Arey Miller and wife, Betty, of Ames, Iowa, Neil Edward Miller of Goods Mill and Kevin Edward Miller and wife, Peggy, of Williamsburg; and a daughter, Darla Lynne Miller and life companion, Rebecca Tate, of McGaheysville. He is also survived by three granddaughters and one grandson, Sonja Rodeffer Baker, Tamara Elizabeth Miller, Teresa Miller Kirilyuk and Brandon Arey Miller. He is also survived by five great-grandsons, nine great-granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren with pastor A. Lee Kinsey. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends Friday, May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Building Fund, 7600 Port Republic Road, Port Republic VA 24471, or the Cross Keys-Mill Creek Ruritan Club, 5094 Battlefield Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
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