PLAINVIEW - James M. Miller, 91, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, in Lubbock.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Jim Irwin of Idalou officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home.
Mr. Miller was a longtime resident and respected pioneer in the field of aviation. He was born June 2, 1910, in Lockney and graduated from high school there. He started a garage there while still in high school and later became a Plymouth-Chrysler dealer. On March 16, 1931, he married Elvie Rosetta Cook in Frederick, Okla.
In 1934, he began his flying career and bought his first airplane soon after. During the war he was a civilian instructor at Victory Field in Vernon, teaching primary students to fly. When the war ended he came back to Plainview and was the first operator of Hale County Airport.
In 1946 he became a Bellanca dealer and was later president of the company after serving on the board of directors for many years. Dealerships for most general aviation airplanes would follow at various times through the years including Aeronca, Funk, Luscombe, Cessna, Aircoupe, Piper and Aerostar.
But the one thing that always remained constant was his love for Bellancas and the worldwide following that developed. He was still working six days a week at Miller Flying Service until his recent surgery. He was past president of Bellanca Aircraft and a longtime member of Plainview Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Batson, of Portales, N.M.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marlin Miller of Plainview and Wayne Miller of Houston; two daughters, Jan Cornebise of Greeley, Colo., and Kay Koepp of Lubbock; a daughter-in-law, Pat Miller of Houston; two sons-in-law, Dr. Al Cornebise of Greeley and Noble Koepp of Lubbock; a brother, Edgar Miller of Dallas; three sisters, Katheryne Tye of Kress, Frances Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mary Jeanne Moore of Lockney; 10 grandchildren, including Marla Hartman of Plainview; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Jim Irwin of Idalou officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home.
Mr. Miller was a longtime resident and respected pioneer in the field of aviation. He was born June 2, 1910, in Lockney and graduated from high school there. He started a garage there while still in high school and later became a Plymouth-Chrysler dealer. On March 16, 1931, he married Elvie Rosetta Cook in Frederick, Okla.
In 1934, he began his flying career and bought his first airplane soon after. During the war he was a civilian instructor at Victory Field in Vernon, teaching primary students to fly. When the war ended he came back to Plainview and was the first operator of Hale County Airport.
In 1946 he became a Bellanca dealer and was later president of the company after serving on the board of directors for many years. Dealerships for most general aviation airplanes would follow at various times through the years including Aeronca, Funk, Luscombe, Cessna, Aircoupe, Piper and Aerostar.
But the one thing that always remained constant was his love for Bellancas and the worldwide following that developed. He was still working six days a week at Miller Flying Service until his recent surgery. He was past president of Bellanca Aircraft and a longtime member of Plainview Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Batson, of Portales, N.M.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marlin Miller of Plainview and Wayne Miller of Houston; two daughters, Jan Cornebise of Greeley, Colo., and Kay Koepp of Lubbock; a daughter-in-law, Pat Miller of Houston; two sons-in-law, Dr. Al Cornebise of Greeley and Noble Koepp of Lubbock; a brother, Edgar Miller of Dallas; three sisters, Katheryne Tye of Kress, Frances Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mary Jeanne Moore of Lockney; 10 grandchildren, including Marla Hartman of Plainview; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association.
PLAINVIEW - James M. Miller, 91, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, in Lubbock.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Jim Irwin of Idalou officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home.
Mr. Miller was a longtime resident and respected pioneer in the field of aviation. He was born June 2, 1910, in Lockney and graduated from high school there. He started a garage there while still in high school and later became a Plymouth-Chrysler dealer. On March 16, 1931, he married Elvie Rosetta Cook in Frederick, Okla.
In 1934, he began his flying career and bought his first airplane soon after. During the war he was a civilian instructor at Victory Field in Vernon, teaching primary students to fly. When the war ended he came back to Plainview and was the first operator of Hale County Airport.
In 1946 he became a Bellanca dealer and was later president of the company after serving on the board of directors for many years. Dealerships for most general aviation airplanes would follow at various times through the years including Aeronca, Funk, Luscombe, Cessna, Aircoupe, Piper and Aerostar.
But the one thing that always remained constant was his love for Bellancas and the worldwide following that developed. He was still working six days a week at Miller Flying Service until his recent surgery. He was past president of Bellanca Aircraft and a longtime member of Plainview Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Batson, of Portales, N.M.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marlin Miller of Plainview and Wayne Miller of Houston; two daughters, Jan Cornebise of Greeley, Colo., and Kay Koepp of Lubbock; a daughter-in-law, Pat Miller of Houston; two sons-in-law, Dr. Al Cornebise of Greeley and Noble Koepp of Lubbock; a brother, Edgar Miller of Dallas; three sisters, Katheryne Tye of Kress, Frances Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mary Jeanne Moore of Lockney; 10 grandchildren, including Marla Hartman of Plainview; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Jim Irwin of Idalou officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home.
Mr. Miller was a longtime resident and respected pioneer in the field of aviation. He was born June 2, 1910, in Lockney and graduated from high school there. He started a garage there while still in high school and later became a Plymouth-Chrysler dealer. On March 16, 1931, he married Elvie Rosetta Cook in Frederick, Okla.
In 1934, he began his flying career and bought his first airplane soon after. During the war he was a civilian instructor at Victory Field in Vernon, teaching primary students to fly. When the war ended he came back to Plainview and was the first operator of Hale County Airport.
In 1946 he became a Bellanca dealer and was later president of the company after serving on the board of directors for many years. Dealerships for most general aviation airplanes would follow at various times through the years including Aeronca, Funk, Luscombe, Cessna, Aircoupe, Piper and Aerostar.
But the one thing that always remained constant was his love for Bellancas and the worldwide following that developed. He was still working six days a week at Miller Flying Service until his recent surgery. He was past president of Bellanca Aircraft and a longtime member of Plainview Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Batson, of Portales, N.M.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Marlin Miller of Plainview and Wayne Miller of Houston; two daughters, Jan Cornebise of Greeley, Colo., and Kay Koepp of Lubbock; a daughter-in-law, Pat Miller of Houston; two sons-in-law, Dr. Al Cornebise of Greeley and Noble Koepp of Lubbock; a brother, Edgar Miller of Dallas; three sisters, Katheryne Tye of Kress, Frances Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mary Jeanne Moore of Lockney; 10 grandchildren, including Marla Hartman of Plainview; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association.
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