Don Paul Miller

Don P. Miller, 86, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2024 following an extended battle with health issues. Even though a failing heart took him away from this world, his loving heart left a beacon of light for those that he knew. Miller was born on May 17, 1938 in Johnstown, PA. He was the son of the late Phillip and Mildred Miller, who preceded him in death. He was the older brother to Susan Hepner (Kenneth) of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Phillip Miller (Kathy) of Louisville, KY. In 1963, he married Barbara (Emerick) Miller and they were married for 56 years before her passing in 2018. He took particular pride in his children Rebecca (Patrick) Grinnals of Windermere, FL and Douglas (Carolyn) Miller of Mandeville, LA and served as a lifelong guide and resource to them in their spiritual, family, and business lives. Miller was a proud and doting grandfather to Annie and Gracie Grinnals, Tyler and United States Air Force Airman First Class Lauren Miller.

He is also survived by a niece, Karen (Kenyon) Meyer of Louisville, Kentucky and nephews Christopher (Lisa) Miller of Springboro, Ohio and Kenneth (Stephanie) Hepner of Orlando and David (Jennifer) of Winston-Salem.

Miller graduated from Westmont High School (1956) in Johnstown and graduated in business at the University of Pittsburgh in 1960. He was a proud Member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and played trumpet in the Pitt Marching Band. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed in Ft. Knox, where he was a driver in the tank division. He then embarked on a 40-plus year career with Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, where he served in multiple executive level positions in both sales and operations including almost three years opening a division in Sao-Paulo, Brazil in the early seventies. He took pride in the fact that he was loyal to one company his entire life, even though the industry he worked in underwent seismic changes during his career.

His pleasures in life surrounded his beloved sports teams that included the Pitt Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pirates, Steelers, Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Saints where his son is a front office executive. He also loved planning family vacations and spearheaded frequent family trips to Walt Disney World, Hilton Head Island, Naples, Fla., and Kiawah Island, among others. He loved long walks on beaches and shared a great affinity for the music of Neil Diamond. While he liked the idea of golf, he admittedly was a better spectator than participant, although he could generally laugh at his regular on-course mishaps. He particularly enjoyed traveling in support of his daughter's wedding industry business ventures and often served as a valued business and operations resource, although he deftly managed to merge business and pleasure at the global business summits. His many dogs were a source of major joy in his life.

Miller was a member of congregations in his birth city of Johnstown (United Methodist Church, where he married Barbara in 1963), Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair, PA and Community Presbyterian Church in Celebration, FL. He was fond of all the places he lived, but particularly proud to call Pittsburgh and Johnstown his homes, as well as his retirement community of Celebration. Late in life he became very involved in AA and quietly helped many people battling addiction.

The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the countless friends he was surrounded by throughout his life, particularly those in his senior living community, The Windsor of Celebration, where he was the very first resident upon its opening. The family is indebted to the care he received in his later stages of life, including those at Celebration Health and Advent Health Hospice. The family will have a celebration of his life at a later date and will share the details when the plans are finalized.