Kenneth J. Miller

Kenneth J. Miller age 92 of Williamsport died at 8:21 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at his residence. Kenneth J. Miller was born on March 29, 1914 in Lafayette, Indiana, the son of James and Emma Bates Miller. In 1922 Mr. Miller was taken in by his aunt and her husband, Ura and Bertha Miller Seeger. He lived with them and graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1932, after which he attended Indiana Business College. On June 22, 1935 he was married to Dorotha Amick in the Pence United Methodist Church. Politics and schools were Mr. Miller's main interest outside of the grain business, which he owned and operated for more than 40 years. Mr. Miller served twenty years as Democratic County Chairman, ten years as 7th District Democratic Chairman, and as local Democratic Precinct Committeeman since 1940. He attended several national conventions, including the 1960 convention in Los Angeles at which John F. Kennedy was nominated and went on to be elected President. On November 28, 1993 Mr. Miller received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Governor Evan Bayh. His greatest achievement, along with his mentor, Senator Ura Seeger, most surely must be the Seeger Memorial High School. It was in 1955 that Mr. Miller convinced the Seegers that the community needed a new school in the midddle of the county. After a few months of deliberation and large donations made by both the Seegers and the Millers, the Seeger Memorial High School was dedicated in 1959. A scholarship fund was established and many young people have received a check from the hand of Mr. Miller at their graduation. Mr. Miller and Mr. Seeger will long be remembered as benefactors to their community. Mr. Miller is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Dorotha, and children Karen Dian Miller of Indianapolis, Bertie Jane Buchanan of Lafayette, Kenneth J. Miller II of Venice, Florida, and Ura L. Miller of Kingman. Also eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren survive. Kenneth was preceded in death by his grandson, Timothy E. Miller in 1985. Mr. Miller was a 50 year + Mason, belonging to the West Lebanon F.A.M. 352, the Indianapolis Scottish Rite and Murat Shrine and the Western Indiana Shrine Club. Visitation will be at Grady Funeral Home in Williamsport on Thursday, August 10, 2006 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Services will be there in the chapel on Friday, August 11, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Grover Williams officiating. Interment will be at West Lebanon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Seeger Memorial High School.