Joe Miller's Obituary
Funeral services for Joe Miller will be held in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home at 2pm on Thursday, August 9, 2018. There will be a time of visitation on Wednesday from 5-7 pm. Joe went to be with the Lord in the early evening of Friday August 3, 2018 surrounded by his family.
Joe was born on February 19, 1927 in Nacogdoches TX, to parents John and Flora Miller. Joe served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. In 1950 he married Wanda Lee Woods. Joe graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce Texas and taught at Port Neches ISD. He attended Jet Engine School at Amarillo Air Force Base in 1956. Moving back to East Texas, Joe worked at Lone Star Steel. In 1965 he helped establish the Upshur County Vocational High School at Gilmer ISD. He then began his teaching career at Kilgore Junior College as an instructor in Industrial Math, Drafting, and Machine Shop. In 1979 he became chairman of the Vo-Tech Department. Joe retired in 1994 after 27 years with the College.
Joe and Wanda were previously members of New Bethlehem Baptist Church, now known as the Open Range Cowboy Church as well as First Baptist Church in Gilmer Texas.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John and Flora Miller; his brother, John Lee Miller who died in 1944 while serving in France with the US Army; brother, William Miller; and his sister-in-law, Jo Ann Miller; and brother-in-law Bert E Woodruff, brother-in-law Richard Yates and brother-in-law W. E. Woods. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Wanda Lee Woods Miller of Gilmer and 3 children, Joe Bob Miller, Susan Miller, and John Alan Miller, all of Gilmer Texas; brother, Herman Miller and wife Sheri of East Mountain; brother-in-law, L.B. Woods Jr. of Tyler TX, sister-in-laws, Bobbie Woodruff of Kilgore TX, and Othalene Yates of Conroe TX. grandchildren: John David Miller and wife Tillie of Clarksville, TN; Josh Fletcher and wife Sara of Gilmer, TX,; Megan Reel of Longview TX; Leigh Ann Milller of Gilmer, TX; and Whitney Miller and Briana of DeSoto MO; great-grandchildren: Nicolas, Landon, Alex, Emma, Gage, Gabriel, Joe, TJ, Joseph, Zachary, Shyann, Ezekiel, Solomon, Aviana, Soliel, Sadie and Judson. Joe will also be remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
A special thank you to Summer Meadows Nursing Home, Texas Home Health, and Hearts Way Hospice for your loving care during Joe’s illness. Thank you to the Open Range Cowboy Church for their prayers and support during this time.
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