William G. "Buzz" Miller

William G. "Buzz" Miller, age 81, of Oakmont passed away peacefully Saturday December 10 at home with his family by his side, after a courageous six-year battle against acute myeloid leukemia. Son of the late William and Mildred Miller. Beloved husband for 58 years of Marcia (Shank) Miller. Loving father of Lori (Joe) Barrett, William "Buzz" (Suzanne McCaffrey) Miller, and Robert (Angela Osterberger) Miller. Grandfather of Henry (Francesca Miller) Barrett, Stella Barrett, Tatum, Eben, and Emmitt Miller. As an only child, he quickly became a beloved elder brother to Marcia's nine siblings. Buzz was a member of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church of Holy Family Parish where he sang in the choir and was often the lead cantor. Buzz capped his long love of barbershop harmonies by singing lead in a quartet called "The Sweatermen." He also loved writing, was published several times, and contributed poems and Letters to the Editor to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Buzz was a proud Army veteran, who served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, accumulating many awards and medals for his service, including a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters as well as the Soldier's Medal, which he won for saving a father and son on a mountain range outside Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah. Buzz later went on to work for Boeing for 20 years in aerospace project management. After retirement he did consulting work with several companies in the evolution of unmanned aircraft. He served on the Oakmont civil service commission and the board of the Fairways of Oakmont. He was a flier of helicopters, a singer of songs, and a teller of dad jokes, who learned the name of each restaurant server and quickly became friends with every stranger. The family wishes to thank Dr. Rafic Farah and the staff at the Lemieux Center for blood cancers at Hillman. Friends and relatives will be received at the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC. 421 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139 on Tuesday December 13 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, December 14, 10:30 a.m., Holy Family Parish (St. Irenaeus Church, Oakmont). Interment at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, with full military honors. Memorials can be made to Hillman Cancer c/o Mario Lemieux, Fourth Floor, 5115 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232.