Robert Charles "Papa" Miller, almost 71, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, died unexpectedly following surgery Friday, April 24, 2009, at a local hospital.
Service: Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. with Masonic services. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park.
Mr. Miller was born on the kitchen table at his parents' home in Harriman, Tenn., on May 14, 1938. He was on the Harriman Blue Devils football team and graduated from high school in 1956. Three days after graduation, he left for the U.S. Air Force where he attended weather school, which became his lifelong occupation.
Bob began his career in the National Weather Service as a weather observer in Abilene where he was known for his radio weather reports. He moved to the Weather Service Regional Office in Fort Worth where he served as surface program manager until his retirement in 1994. He inspected weather stations over a 10-state area. He loved the weather service and enjoyed working with the men and women to give quality weather information.
Bob married and had two children, Dee Ann and Robert L. "Bobby." He reared his children alone from the time they were 14 and 11. He was a loving and caring father who always put his children first. In 1985 he gave a big smile and jumped on the dance floor at the urging of a tall, auburn-headed woman. His family grew when he married Ellen Edwards Aug. 17, 1985, and added two "almost" grown sons, Patrick and Michael McArthur.
Ellen went with Bob while he traveled over his weather service territory. They white water rafted through Royal George where Bob lost his balance and knocked Ellen out of the raft in the middle of a class 5 rapid. Bob always said he saved her life by pulling her out of the freezing water. They rode bikes from 10,000 feet to sea level Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii, and watched breaching whales off Maui and Kauai. The last few years their vacations have been to Oregon and Georgia to visit children and grandchildren.
Family gatherings were numerous and fun as the family melded together. All four children have married and given us wonderful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, with a great-grandson due in September. Bob loved all the children - we had no stepchildren - just children and grandchildren that we love. He loved to play with the little ones and rejoiced each time they came to visit - and sometimes when they left!
Bob was a member of the Independent Christian Church, serving as a deacon for a number of years. He was a Master Mason, serving Tabernacle Masonic Lodge as Worshipful Master and a member of the Scottish Rite organization. He was also a member of the Wedgwood Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron with his wife, Ellen.
Bob was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed helping others, including family members and friends. As his parents aged, he and Ellen worked to make their lives comfortable. In last few years he worked with Ellen and her parents as they moved to assisted living and needed additional help.
Bob's heart was broken in 1995 when his daughter, Dee Ann Lokey, was killed, leaving us to love her 8-year-old daughter, Lauren. He never thought he did enough for his children and grandchildren, whether making sure they had enough food or having the Christmas presents they wanted. He spoiled all of us rotten! He was loved and will be missed a lot.
In addition to his daughter, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee and Helen Miller.
Survivors: His wife of 24 years, Ellen Edwards Miller; children, Robert L. and Christie Miller, Patrick L. and Tanya McArthur, Michael P. and Kimberly McArthur; grandchildren, Lauren Lokey, Cecilie Long and her husband, Kyle, Caleb Miller, Austin, Cole, Alexandra and Kayden McArthur; great-grandchildren, Ella Wood and an expected great-grandson due in September; sister, Anne Owen and her husband, Quinton; and many other family members and friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on 4/26/2009
Service: Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. with Masonic services. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park.
Mr. Miller was born on the kitchen table at his parents' home in Harriman, Tenn., on May 14, 1938. He was on the Harriman Blue Devils football team and graduated from high school in 1956. Three days after graduation, he left for the U.S. Air Force where he attended weather school, which became his lifelong occupation.
Bob began his career in the National Weather Service as a weather observer in Abilene where he was known for his radio weather reports. He moved to the Weather Service Regional Office in Fort Worth where he served as surface program manager until his retirement in 1994. He inspected weather stations over a 10-state area. He loved the weather service and enjoyed working with the men and women to give quality weather information.
Bob married and had two children, Dee Ann and Robert L. "Bobby." He reared his children alone from the time they were 14 and 11. He was a loving and caring father who always put his children first. In 1985 he gave a big smile and jumped on the dance floor at the urging of a tall, auburn-headed woman. His family grew when he married Ellen Edwards Aug. 17, 1985, and added two "almost" grown sons, Patrick and Michael McArthur.
Ellen went with Bob while he traveled over his weather service territory. They white water rafted through Royal George where Bob lost his balance and knocked Ellen out of the raft in the middle of a class 5 rapid. Bob always said he saved her life by pulling her out of the freezing water. They rode bikes from 10,000 feet to sea level Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii, and watched breaching whales off Maui and Kauai. The last few years their vacations have been to Oregon and Georgia to visit children and grandchildren.
Family gatherings were numerous and fun as the family melded together. All four children have married and given us wonderful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, with a great-grandson due in September. Bob loved all the children - we had no stepchildren - just children and grandchildren that we love. He loved to play with the little ones and rejoiced each time they came to visit - and sometimes when they left!
Bob was a member of the Independent Christian Church, serving as a deacon for a number of years. He was a Master Mason, serving Tabernacle Masonic Lodge as Worshipful Master and a member of the Scottish Rite organization. He was also a member of the Wedgwood Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron with his wife, Ellen.
Bob was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed helping others, including family members and friends. As his parents aged, he and Ellen worked to make their lives comfortable. In last few years he worked with Ellen and her parents as they moved to assisted living and needed additional help.
Bob's heart was broken in 1995 when his daughter, Dee Ann Lokey, was killed, leaving us to love her 8-year-old daughter, Lauren. He never thought he did enough for his children and grandchildren, whether making sure they had enough food or having the Christmas presents they wanted. He spoiled all of us rotten! He was loved and will be missed a lot.
In addition to his daughter, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee and Helen Miller.
Survivors: His wife of 24 years, Ellen Edwards Miller; children, Robert L. and Christie Miller, Patrick L. and Tanya McArthur, Michael P. and Kimberly McArthur; grandchildren, Lauren Lokey, Cecilie Long and her husband, Kyle, Caleb Miller, Austin, Cole, Alexandra and Kayden McArthur; great-grandchildren, Ella Wood and an expected great-grandson due in September; sister, Anne Owen and her husband, Quinton; and many other family members and friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on 4/26/2009
Robert Charles "Papa" Miller, almost 71, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, died unexpectedly following surgery Friday, April 24, 2009, at a local hospital.
Service: Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. with Masonic services. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park.
Mr. Miller was born on the kitchen table at his parents' home in Harriman, Tenn., on May 14, 1938. He was on the Harriman Blue Devils football team and graduated from high school in 1956. Three days after graduation, he left for the U.S. Air Force where he attended weather school, which became his lifelong occupation.
Bob began his career in the National Weather Service as a weather observer in Abilene where he was known for his radio weather reports. He moved to the Weather Service Regional Office in Fort Worth where he served as surface program manager until his retirement in 1994. He inspected weather stations over a 10-state area. He loved the weather service and enjoyed working with the men and women to give quality weather information.
Bob married and had two children, Dee Ann and Robert L. "Bobby." He reared his children alone from the time they were 14 and 11. He was a loving and caring father who always put his children first. In 1985 he gave a big smile and jumped on the dance floor at the urging of a tall, auburn-headed woman. His family grew when he married Ellen Edwards Aug. 17, 1985, and added two "almost" grown sons, Patrick and Michael McArthur.
Ellen went with Bob while he traveled over his weather service territory. They white water rafted through Royal George where Bob lost his balance and knocked Ellen out of the raft in the middle of a class 5 rapid. Bob always said he saved her life by pulling her out of the freezing water. They rode bikes from 10,000 feet to sea level Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii, and watched breaching whales off Maui and Kauai. The last few years their vacations have been to Oregon and Georgia to visit children and grandchildren.
Family gatherings were numerous and fun as the family melded together. All four children have married and given us wonderful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, with a great-grandson due in September. Bob loved all the children - we had no stepchildren - just children and grandchildren that we love. He loved to play with the little ones and rejoiced each time they came to visit - and sometimes when they left!
Bob was a member of the Independent Christian Church, serving as a deacon for a number of years. He was a Master Mason, serving Tabernacle Masonic Lodge as Worshipful Master and a member of the Scottish Rite organization. He was also a member of the Wedgwood Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron with his wife, Ellen.
Bob was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed helping others, including family members and friends. As his parents aged, he and Ellen worked to make their lives comfortable. In last few years he worked with Ellen and her parents as they moved to assisted living and needed additional help.
Bob's heart was broken in 1995 when his daughter, Dee Ann Lokey, was killed, leaving us to love her 8-year-old daughter, Lauren. He never thought he did enough for his children and grandchildren, whether making sure they had enough food or having the Christmas presents they wanted. He spoiled all of us rotten! He was loved and will be missed a lot.
In addition to his daughter, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee and Helen Miller.
Survivors: His wife of 24 years, Ellen Edwards Miller; children, Robert L. and Christie Miller, Patrick L. and Tanya McArthur, Michael P. and Kimberly McArthur; grandchildren, Lauren Lokey, Cecilie Long and her husband, Kyle, Caleb Miller, Austin, Cole, Alexandra and Kayden McArthur; great-grandchildren, Ella Wood and an expected great-grandson due in September; sister, Anne Owen and her husband, Quinton; and many other family members and friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on 4/26/2009
Service: Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. with Masonic services. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park.
Mr. Miller was born on the kitchen table at his parents' home in Harriman, Tenn., on May 14, 1938. He was on the Harriman Blue Devils football team and graduated from high school in 1956. Three days after graduation, he left for the U.S. Air Force where he attended weather school, which became his lifelong occupation.
Bob began his career in the National Weather Service as a weather observer in Abilene where he was known for his radio weather reports. He moved to the Weather Service Regional Office in Fort Worth where he served as surface program manager until his retirement in 1994. He inspected weather stations over a 10-state area. He loved the weather service and enjoyed working with the men and women to give quality weather information.
Bob married and had two children, Dee Ann and Robert L. "Bobby." He reared his children alone from the time they were 14 and 11. He was a loving and caring father who always put his children first. In 1985 he gave a big smile and jumped on the dance floor at the urging of a tall, auburn-headed woman. His family grew when he married Ellen Edwards Aug. 17, 1985, and added two "almost" grown sons, Patrick and Michael McArthur.
Ellen went with Bob while he traveled over his weather service territory. They white water rafted through Royal George where Bob lost his balance and knocked Ellen out of the raft in the middle of a class 5 rapid. Bob always said he saved her life by pulling her out of the freezing water. They rode bikes from 10,000 feet to sea level Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii, and watched breaching whales off Maui and Kauai. The last few years their vacations have been to Oregon and Georgia to visit children and grandchildren.
Family gatherings were numerous and fun as the family melded together. All four children have married and given us wonderful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, with a great-grandson due in September. Bob loved all the children - we had no stepchildren - just children and grandchildren that we love. He loved to play with the little ones and rejoiced each time they came to visit - and sometimes when they left!
Bob was a member of the Independent Christian Church, serving as a deacon for a number of years. He was a Master Mason, serving Tabernacle Masonic Lodge as Worshipful Master and a member of the Scottish Rite organization. He was also a member of the Wedgwood Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron with his wife, Ellen.
Bob was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed helping others, including family members and friends. As his parents aged, he and Ellen worked to make their lives comfortable. In last few years he worked with Ellen and her parents as they moved to assisted living and needed additional help.
Bob's heart was broken in 1995 when his daughter, Dee Ann Lokey, was killed, leaving us to love her 8-year-old daughter, Lauren. He never thought he did enough for his children and grandchildren, whether making sure they had enough food or having the Christmas presents they wanted. He spoiled all of us rotten! He was loved and will be missed a lot.
In addition to his daughter, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee and Helen Miller.
Survivors: His wife of 24 years, Ellen Edwards Miller; children, Robert L. and Christie Miller, Patrick L. and Tanya McArthur, Michael P. and Kimberly McArthur; grandchildren, Lauren Lokey, Cecilie Long and her husband, Kyle, Caleb Miller, Austin, Cole, Alexandra and Kayden McArthur; great-grandchildren, Ella Wood and an expected great-grandson due in September; sister, Anne Owen and her husband, Quinton; and many other family members and friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on 4/26/2009
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