Robert Miller

1929 - 2020

Robert Miller

Hanover - Robert Burton Miller, 91, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 30th in the loving home of his daughter and son-in-law in Gettysburg, PA,

He was born in McDonald, Pennsylvania on September 12, 1929, the son of Robert Solomon Miller and Frances Bell Kennedy Miller. He married Jane Griffiths in 1955 in Cambridge Springs, PA.

A 1949 graduate of McDonald High School, Bob played football for the Red Devils, at the position of guard, along with his brother Jake. After High School, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict, 1949-1953, and earning the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and a medal for good conduct. Stationed on a small island off the coast of Japan, Bob's primary duty was to scramble radio frequencies so that pilot communications couldn't be intercepted by the enemy.

After his enlistment ended, Bob used the G.I. Bill to attend Edinboro College where he majored in Art Education, graduating with distinguished honors in 1957. During his college career, Bob enjoyed theater and participated in the musical, The Pirates of Penzance.

In his youth, Bob was a member of the Boy Scouts of America where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. His involvement continued into his adult life as both treasurer and assistant Scout Master for Troop 117 of the Parkville Fire Company. Bob lived the Scout Law.

Bob was a faithful member of All Saints Episcopal Church for over 60 years; where he was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Vestry.

Bob was an art teacher in the Hanover School district for over 33 years and was beloved by literally thousands of students. For decades, he created and designed backdrops and sets for each annual school musical. During his summer "breaks," Bob was hired back by the school district as a foreman for the paint crew, spending over 30 hot summers painting classrooms to support his family and make ends meet.

An avid outdoorsman and self-taught naturalist, Bob had a love of birdwatching, compiling a lifetime list of hundreds of various North American species, often transferring their images to canvas with brush and acrylic paint. A small snapshot of his work will be showcased in the January 2021 issue of the Pennsylvania Game News magazine. He enjoyed hiking, hunting and observing the intricacy and fragility of nature. Camping with his family and scout troop were an important part of his life; he had a special affinity for Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

Bob is survived by his wife Jane, their four children, Karen Kendlehart and her husband Neal, Robb Miller and his wife Wendy, Jeff Miller and his wife Renee' and Michael Miller and his wife Sharlene, and their twelve grandchildren Galia and Victor Kendlehart; Maddie, Ben and Sarah Miller; Madison and Evan Murray; Caleb, Colin and Carter Miller and Morgan and Charles Miller. Mr Miller is also survived by his brother William Miller, and sisters Sally Tomasevich and Barbara Powell. He was preceded in death by his brother Jake Miller, a Golden Glove champion.

Memorial contribution can be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, 890 McCosh Street, Hanover, PA.

To share memories of Robert, please visit www.wetzelfuneralhome.com.