Iona Miller

Iona Miller, 88, of New Philadelphia, died Thursday, October 07, 2010 in Country Club Retirement Campus at Dover following a period of declining health.A daughter of the late Willis and Pearl (Schaub) Burger, Iona was born January 7, 1922 at Baltic, Ohio.Iona was a graduate of Baltic High School. Then in 1940, she met the love of her life, John S. Miller at the soap box derby at Sugarcreek. The couple wed on November 24, 1945.After moving to Columbus, Iona went to work at Nationwide Insurance in order for John to attend The Ohio State University. Iona and John would later relocate to Farmerstown, Ohio where they owned and operated the Farmerstown General Store for 13 years.She was once active with the Baltic United Methodist Church serving as the youth choir leader, a Sunday School and Bible School teacher and part time organist. Iona was also a member of the First Moravian Church at Dover. Along with her husband, John, she was active with the church visitation committee and assisted with the prayer shawl ministry.Iona and John were also active members of the West Lafayette Chapter of Eastern Star with Iona serving as the pianist and John as a past Worthy Patron. They were also members of the Coshocton Eastern Star Chapter #157.She will be remembered by family and friends for her creative talents and compassion for others. She was an accomplished musician and created many detailed cross stitch samplers. Iona was a wonderful cook and especially enjoyed entertaining family and friends with elaborate dinners; even recording the details from each occasion. Over the years, she knitted more than 50 sweaters and encouraged many others to do the same in order for them to be sent to the Middle East to keep children warm on cold desert nights.She cherished the time spent with John and the couple enjoyed traveling to Williamsburg, Virginia, a place they visited for more than 50 years. They also enjoyed driving the countryside and exploring old cemeteries. Iona also cherished the time spent with her son, J. Greg Miller of New Philadelphia and his wife, Janie, who thought of her as a mother.Being the loving grandmother she was, Iona deeply loved and cared for her three grandsons, Joshua and his wife Lindsay of Dublin, Ohio, Jordan of Columbus, Ohio and Joel of New Philadelphia.Iona was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John, with whom she shared 63 years of marriage at the time of his passing on January 2, 2009; two sisters, Doris Johnson and Mary Jenette Barringer and a brother, Kenneth Burger.The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 10, 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Iona’s life will be held on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the First Moravian Church at Dover with Rev. John Wallace officiating. Burial will follow in Union Hill Cemetery at Sugarcreek. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the fellowship hall at the church.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.Contributions may be made in Iona’s memory to the First Moravian Church, 319 North Walnut Street, Dover, OH 44622.