Oct. 8, 1924 - Jan. 4, 2013
GOSHEN - Robert J. Miller, 88, of Goshen, died peacefully at home Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, surrounded by his wife, three children and their families.
Survivors include his spouse of 68 years, Ellene Long Miller; two sons, Steve (Becky Iden) of Elkhart and Bruce (Sue Grubb) of Goshen; and one daughter, Beth (Ken) Miller Kraybill of Seattle. He also leaves five grandchildren, Megan, Sarah, Jacob, Kyan and Jordy; three great-grandchildren, Kalea, Makai and Aven; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
Bob was born in Charm (Holmes County), Ohio, to Arletus "Lee B." and Priscilla (Oswald) Miller. He was the sixth of eight children, all of whom preceded him in death.
He received his education at Goshen College, Goshen, and Billings Hospital, Indianapolis.
He married Ellene Long in 1944.
He lived with his family in Mishawaka where he was a research/development latex foam chemist at Uniroyal Corp. for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1986. Bob and Ellene subsequently relocated to Elkhart for 12 years and to Greencroft Retirement Center, Goshen in 2001.
A gifted athlete, Bob participated in sports in school, college and adult recreational teams. In later years, he was an avid spectator of sports.
Bob loved to drive, sharing his sense of adventure on annual camping vacations with his young family, and later enjoyed many travels near and far with Ellene.
As a non-combatant in WWII, Bob was in charge of an evacuation hospital's surgical unit in the South Pacific. His experiences during that time convinced him that the brokenness and destruction of war must be prevented by the hard work of peacemaking.
A memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at Hively Avenue Mennonite Church, where friends may visit with the family for an hour prior to the service. Bob and Ellene are long-term members of the church. The church is at 800 E. Hively Ave., Elkhart.
Private burial services have taken place in Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Christian Peacemaker Teams, Box 6508, Chicago, IL 60680-6508, Hively Avenue Mennonite Church Deacon's Fund, 800 E. Hively Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517 or IU Goshen Home Health and Hospice, 1721 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526.
Hartman Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.