Dayhoff Art: George H Miller, ‘A True Patriot’ of Westminster has died at the age of 89

Miller remembered as a veteran and for his tireless service to his country and the community

George H. Miller (March 21, 1921 - June 24, 2010)

June 30, 2010

By Kevin Dayhoff kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

Friends and family gathered at the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home Wednesday evening to say goodbye George Henry Miller. He died at his home on Thursday, June 24, 2010. He was 89 year old.

Miller wore many hats over the years and was known by many as a tireless supporter of the community.

Miller was, in recent years, a fixture at the Westminster Senior Center where he enjoyed participating in the various activities and coordinated many Memorial Day programs.

In a 2005 recognition written about Miller for being named the “2005 Outstanding Senior Volunteer,” then-Westminster Senior Center Manager, Paul Garver noted that Miller has been a volunteer at the senior center since 1997 and served “as president of the Westminster site for two years.

Garver praised Miller as “a caring volunteer… chairman of the Sunshine Committee,” who visited “senior center participants who are recovering in the hospital and attends funeral services for those who pass away.”

“George is often referred to as ‘Mr. Patriot’ around the center. He always leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance… He also planned our first Patriot’s Day Program on September 11, 2002…”

It was “through the hard work and dedication of” of Miller that the Westminster Senior Center had a flagpole, observed another old undated senior center memo shared by the family at the funeral home.

“Through his determination, the pole was finally completed on September 10, 2001…” Miller got the American Legion Post #31 to donate the American flag and Carroll County State’s Attorney Jerry Barnes to donate the Maryland flag.

Of course, anyone who knew him knows that Miller was hard to say no to...

Kenny Williams remembered Miller Wednesday evening “as a member of the church” - St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Carroll County Coin Club. Williams appreciated Miller’s military service during World War II and how he supported veterans.

Miller was a life member and held various positions in the V.F.W. Post 467, which he joined on May 25, 1948. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 31, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 4378 and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1381.

Miller was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II; when he served in the 84th Infantry Division, 326th Field Artillery and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

In family papers shared at the funeral home, we learn that Miller was born on farm on March 21, 1921 in Millers Station. He was the son of the late H. Walter and Ella Florence Lippy Miller.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes Stephan Miller, whom he married on March 8^th, 1947.

Miller left “Manchester High School after the eleventh grade to join the United States Army,” according to information provided by the family Wednesday evening.

“After his enlistment date of December 8, 1939, George was stationed at Fort Hoyle, Maryland…” After transferring to Camp Gordon, Georgia, next to Camp Howze, Texas, and then on Fort Dix, New Jersey; “on September 20, 1944, George set sail for England. He arrived in England on October 1, 1944, after a rough crossing of the Atlantic…”

“George served in the Ardennes and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. His last commander in Europe was the legendary General Patton. George returned to the United States at the end of the war and was honorably discharged from the Army on October 31, 1945 at Camp Meade, Maryland.”

According to an old undated newspaper article by Lois Szymanski, shared by Miller’s family, Miller “enlisted in the Army in 1939 and worked with horse-drawn artillery until 1940…”

The article detailed that Miller was one of “Four speakers (that) brought the past to life for seventh-graders at East Middle School… In a program designed to let students know about history from those who have lived it…”

As for his service in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, Miller was quoted, “The snow was 4 feet deep, and the temperatures were way below freezing. Once things thawed out, we had to fight our way through the thick mud.”

Wednesday evening, members of the V.F.W. Post 467 performed the V.F.W. Memorial Chapel Service. The leadership of the V.F.W., proudly remembered Miller’s service and sacrifice for our country and along with the nods of agreement among those who had crowded into the funeral home, Thomas Williams, the current commander of the local Westminster V.F.W. mourned the loss of yet another veteran of World War II.

“He was a hero. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge,” said Williams. “As a younger member of the post, I always looked-up to George.”

After the ceremony Wednesday evening, Williams and retired Lt. Col. Ron Hollingsworth, the current V.F.W. officer of the day room, exclaimed simultaneously, with a smile, “George was one tough old bird,” in reference to what he went through during World War II – especially in the Battle of the Bulge.

V.F.W. Chaplain Earl Seipp said, “I was bred and raised in Westminster. I’ve known George and (his wife) Agnes all my life…. Some men grope the high road and some men grope the low road and in between on the misty flats, the rest drift to and fro…” George took the high road said Williams. “Cream always rises to the top. I think George fits both of these sayings.”

Hollingsworth, a veteran of two tours in Vietnam in 1966 and 1969, recalled “the first time I went to Miller’s house. His garage was meticulously organized and cleaner than most houses. It was full of military mementoes… Military hats, banners, decorations… it was like a military museum.

I could talk about George for hours about his service - to our country, our community, and the younger members of the V.F.W. He was a fountain of information. A very bright man. I will definitely miss him,” said Hollingsworth as his voice trailed off.

After the war, Miller returned home and worked in the vending business and later transitioned to security and detective work. For a brief period, perhaps in the 1950s, although the family could not recall the exact date, Miller operated a gas station at the corner of Main and Bond Streets out of a little building that in recent years has served as an eatery.

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s he coached Little League baseball.

In another yellowed newspaper clipping, this one dated simply, “1970,” served notice that “George Henry Miller, a 49-year-old vending machine company employee and part-time security guard, filed last week as a Democratic candidate for county sheriff.

“Miller, a veteran… and former official of various veterans’ groups, called for ‘better relations with other elected officials’ as he entered the race against incumbent Sheriff H. LeRoy Campbell, a Republican.

“Declining to take issue with Campbell’s performance during the primary campaign, Miller said he favored ‘positive communications with deputies and other law enforcement officers throughout the county.’

“Miller, whose father was an Orphan’s Court judge in Westminster…” The article goes on a great length about Miller’s accomplishments.

Another yellowed newspaper article with a date of only “August 17,” was an article written by now-Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich.

“Security Man Is Straight Shooter,” begins with “You know who George Henry Miller is by what he says and by what he does. He is one of that country-bred-and-reared … men that doesn’t play around with double meanings and fancy manners. Some things are right and some things are wrong…”

The article goes on to detail that Miller “runs the local office of the Bay State Detective Agency, a security firm which employs about 30 guards and keeps watch over local business and industrial properties for 700 hours a week.”

The article delineated his service in the Army, rising to the rank of first sergeant… “I liked the Army,” Miller is quoted. “I’d do it again…”

Minnich wrote of Miller’s participation in the Battle of the Bulge: he “remembers being the third man in line to leave a ditch. The first two were shot down, but he survived…”

“He visits the sick, attends the funerals…, and sends cards and baskets to the grieving. There is a sense of community and a system for doing the right thing. He is a man who believes in setting standards and then working to meet them. And those who don’t meet the standards can expect to suffer the natural consequences…”

Minnich also detailed that Miller “was instrumental in the construction of a second (baseball) diamond on Gist Road in Westminster…” Minnich quoted Miller, “I went to the commissioners and I said, ‘Look, we need another ball field to help keep those kids off the streets…’

“While they were building it,” noted Minnich, “he was out there every day. He was as involved with that as he has been with the other things he believes in.

“In 1970, after years as a deputy and a friendship with the incumbent sheriff, LeRoy Campbell, he decided to run for the office on the Democratic ticket … but today still counts Campbell as a friend, and he is still a deputy. He disagreed (with Campbell,) but disagreed with honor.”

Anyone who knew Miller is aware that he was always straightforward and positive. In addition to being known as a hardworking, honorable, honest man, who cared greatly for his fellow man and his community, his son Dale, mostly remembered his Dad Wednesday night as “a true patriot.”

“Every parent passes on to their children a special gift. My father gave us the gift of patriotism and love of country… He truly was a member of ‘The Greatest Generation.’”

Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Dale H. Miller; a granddaughter, Chelsea E. Miller; siblings, Lois Neumann, Charles Ivan Miller, Herbert Eugene Miller, Helen Dickens, Evelyn Nott, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his son, Sidney Dwight Miller and siblings, Louella Sanders, Ruthetta Redding, Pauline Roth, Ethel Detter, and H. Walter Miller, Jr.

His memorial Service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 91 Willis St., Westminster. At his request his body was donated to the Maryland State Anatomy Board.

LABELS: HISTORY 1939 1945 WORLD WAR II, PEOPLE TRIBUTES 0 COMMENTSLINKS TO THIS POST