William "Carl" Miller

Pastor William "Carl" Miller

April 10, 1929 - February 17, 2026

Pastor William "Carl" Miller, 96, slipped into his heavenly shoes on February 17, 2026 as he was peacefully ushered into heaven from English Meadows Assisted Living in Harrisonburg, VA.

He is survived by his two daughters, Melinda "Linda" Kephart and Marianne Scheiman (David), grandchildren, Nathan and Lynnea Joy LeVan, and sister-in-law, Mavis Miller. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Bingaman Miller (2010), still born son, Larry Carl Miller (1959), best friend and brother-in-law, Rev. Lester Smitley (2015) and Lester's wife, Marianne "Elsie" Bingaman Smitley (2012), who was Carl's wife, Betty's, identical twin sister.

In heaven he was also welcomed by his late parents Robert Paul and Ann Alberta (Meyers) Miller, brothers Rev. Robert Miller (Althea), Rev. Ward Miller (Lucille), Rev. Paul Miller (Esther), Howard Miller and Wesley Miller (Mavis-still living), and sisters Martha Lohnes, Laura Kreighbaum (Arnold), Jane Wilkin (Russell) and Marjorie Anne Miller.

Carl was born the ninth of ten children on April 10, 1929 in Philadelphia, PA, but grew up on the family farm in Berne, IN after moving there around age four. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1947 and from Bob Jones University in 1951, where he focused on Biblical Studies and English, and met his bride of 59 years. Following in his father's footsteps and three of his brothers, he too became a pastor after receiving his Master of Divinity at Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN in 1958. Carl was Assistant or Head Pastor at Grace Brethren Churches in Roanoke, VA, Fort Wayne, IN, Harrah, WA, (on the Yakima Indian Reservation), Covington, VA, Warminster, PA, Alexandria, VA, Ankenytown, OH, and Goshen, IN, his final full-time pastorate ending in 1996. Carl's father's last pastorate was this same church in Goshen ending in 1963.

Retirement to Carl did not mean leaving the pulpit behind. He continued preaching (as a fill-in) and teaching weekly as a Sunday School teacher for 25 years at Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church in Flintstone, GA and another 3 years until the age of 96 holding Sunday services at English Meadows.

Health emergencies did not delay his dedication and fortitude for ministry. In June 2017 he experienced a massive heart attack on a Tuesday and was taken by ambulance to the hospital ER, where he received multiple stints over several days. He returned home Friday and remarkably taught his Sunday School class the Sunday following his heart attack, never missing a Sunday!

Several gratifying trips included Alaska and the Holy Land with Lester Smitley, another traveling through France, Austria and Switzerland with his wife and tour guides, Tom and Doris Julien, lifelong friends, and visiting his youngest daughter while she was living in Barbados.

Reading was part of his fiber, as he owned two Christian bookstores in Covington and Alexandria, VA. He was a successful gardener, earning the title of Farmer Miller in addition to Pastor Miller. He also had a wonderful voice like his wife, as they sung duets specifically their favorite "Living For Jesus," which they faithfully modeled.

Other passions included studying God's word, memorizing scripture, sharing his faith with strangers, praying over pages of requests for others by name, and visiting his congregants in the hospital before and after surgeries, no matter the time of day or night. His clergy badge was worn out! A ball point pen and stash of 3 x 5 cards were always stored in his shirt pocket, so he could readily jot down and share Bible verses, riddles, jokes, statistics and quotes with family and friends. God blessed him in numerous ways. Physical pain was not part of his earthly journey (no pain meds), and he also notably had 20/20 vision (no glasses) up to the last time he closed his eyes on this earth.

Evangelism was ever present in his mind even in the day-to-day. After shopping at Aldi, he always tried to pass his cart onto someone so he could hand them a gospel tract and say, "I hope I'll see you in heaven someday!" He often spoke of the "Blessed Hope" found in Titus 2:13, as he dreamed of experiencing the rapture. He was enamored by the phrase, "twinkling of an eye" in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, sharing how exciting that it was likely 11/100ths of a second. He would exclaim, "Can you imagine that?!" Though he didn't experience the rapture, we believe he left this earth and entered heaven at that same lightening speed. His desk displayed a wooden plaque that said, "Perhaps today!" Those were often the last words of each phone conversation with Linda, who called him nearly every day for 15 years after his beloved Betty was "promoted to heaven," as he would say.

Daily, his attitude overflowed with praises and thanksgiving to God. He was the most positive person his daughters ever knew, where complaining was not part of his vocabulary. He was a shining example of our Heavenly Father, and obedient to scripture by loving God and loving others, while knowing Christ and making Him known. His daughters will deeply miss hearing his voice and being wrapped in one of his hugs. They count themselves blessed to have been raised by such a Godly, loving, supportive and present father demonstrating a legacy they hope to faithfully carry forward. They have no doubt he received a hearty, "Well done, Carl, my good and faithful servant!" from his Creator and Redeemer. "Welcome home! Your name's not only written in the Lamb's Book of Life, but on that bowl of ice cream waiting for you over there! Yes, you're in Paradise!"

Carl would be honored by anyone contributing "in his memory" to the the Asia Fund (orphanages in Cambodia and Thailand) at his last pastorate: Grace Community Church, 20076 County Road 36, Goshen, IN 46526.