John S Miller

John S. Miller, Jr. died peacefully on January 2, 2009 in the Country Club Retirement Center at Dover. He was 89 years old.He was born on August 20, 1919 to the late John S. and Iva (Mast) Miller in Sugarcreek, Ohio.John graduated from Sugarcreek High School. After graduation, he worked for his father’s road construction company. During World War II, he honorably served his country as a staff sergeant stationed in the Middle East in a medical hospital unit as a clerk.After the war, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Iona Berger. Moving to Columbus, Iona went to work so that John could attend Ohio State University. After graduation, John worked for Montgomery Ward in their store management program.With a desire to own his own business, they bought the Farmerstown General Store near Charm, Ohio. John and Iona operated the store until 1963. He then joined the John D. Brush Company as an independent sales distributor of fireproof safes and files. John and Iona celebrated 63 years of marriage in November. During this time, they enjoyed many vacations to Williamsburg, Virginia, “their second home”. Together, they were active in the West Lafayette Chapter of Eastern Star where John was Worthy Patron for many years. They were also members of the Coshocton Eastern Star Chapter #157. John and Iona were members of Dover First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio where they were actively involved in the visitation committee.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, J. Greg Miller of New Philadelphia and his daughterâ??in-law, Janie, who was like a daughter to him; three grandsons, Joshua and his wife, Lindsay, of Dublin, Ohio; Jordan of Grove City, Ohio, and Joel of New Philadelphia, Ohio. A sister, Garnett Topper of Powell, Ohio also survives.His parents and two brothers, Waldo and Paul, preceded John in death.Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Monday, January 5, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating John’s life will be held in the First Moravian Church at Dover on Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Union Hill Cemetery in Sugarcreek. Following the committal service, friends are invited back to the church where a meal will be provided by John’s church family.Memorial contributions in memory of John may be given to Dover First Moravian Church, 319 North Walnut Street, Dover, Ohio 44622.