"On behalf of my deceased (March 2011) mother Lucile Miller and I, her daughter, offer my sympathy. My mother who also taught at Mid-Prairie Jr High was a friend of your mother. I too came to know her after their retirement when going out to eat. I often heard Fred and Dr Phil's name while visiting. Because they were both Mrs Miller at school they would be know (in private) as "do you mean short heavy set Mrs Miller" or "tall slender Mrs Miller". They both loved reading. Take care."
In loving memory of
Dorothy J Miller
September 8, 1915 - December 20, 2019
Dorothy Jean Miller was born September 8, 1915, in rural Wellman, Iowa, the daughter of Glenn and Dora (Berry) Huntsberger. She graduated from Wellman High School. She was a teacher, first in rural country schools and then in the Mid-Prairie School District, where she taught for 20 years. Dorothy married R. Weldon Miller on June 5, 1940 in Fort Madison. They made their home in the Wellman community where they raised two sons. She was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church. In 2008, Dorothy moved to Highland Ridge Senior Living Community. Dorothy died on Friday, December 20, 2019, at the Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg at the age of 104 years.
She lived a long and inspired life, raising her family and contributing to her community. She was a voracious reader, consuming as many as 100 books a year, and a master puzzler. Her gardening prowess included yearly vegetable garden and an unmatched perennial border (she was even known to weed the front gardens at Highland Ridge, well into her 90s). Her fashion sense was a trademark--everywhere she went, she wore an A-line skirt and blouse with earrings and necklace to match. Her sense of humor, her energy and her strong opinions were intact until the end.
Dorothy had a deep love for Iowa's rolling farmland and relished watching the farmers planting and harvesting from her apartment at Highland Ridge. A master quilter who quilted into her 90s, she was rumored to tear out the stitches of fellow quilters who didn't meet her standard. Dorothy traveled to Saudi Arabia and to Europe with her son Fred and his wife Karen and to many places in the United States. But Iowa was her home for her 104 years of life.
Dorothy is survived by two sons: Fred (Karen) Miller of Gardnerville, Nevada; Dr. Philip Miller (Colleen Cain) of Portland, Oregon; two granddaughters: Claire Cain Miller (Alex Cain), Dr. Sophie Cain Miller (Reid Spolek); two great grandsons, Auden and Tiller Cain and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two step granddaughters: Tiffanne Hardy, Marlo Doll; and five step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Weldon, in August 1970, a sister Margaret Huntsberger, and a brother Donald Huntsberger.
The family is deeply appreciative of the devoted care and attention Dorothy received from her long time cardiologist, Dr. Michael Kienzle, and from the staff at The Gables at Highland Ridge Senior Living Community in Williamsburg, during the time she lived there.
A graveside service will be held1:00 pm on Thursday, December 26, 2019 in the Wellman Cemetery. The Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg is caring for Dorothy and her family.
Tributes
"Dear Family of Dorothy, I was an RN in assisted living when Dorothy resided there at Highland Ridge. Dorothy was a very special person. I enjoyed her sense of humor and her spunkiness so much. We often had wonderful discussions about books we were reading and she was a regular at the Williamsburg Library. I will always remember her intelligence and her interest in so many things. I can still see her popping up the stairways with vigor at Highland when she was well into her 90's. She was a delight to know and spend time with. She was ever so proud of her boys, their wives and children and spoke of you all often with pride. I feel privileged to have known her. Evelyn Means"
"Dear Fred Phil and family I give you my condolences I started missing Dorothy the day she moved to Williamsburg in 2008 She was a friend of both my dad and my mom I do hope to get to the graveside service MaryAnn Miller "
"To Fred and Phil, Prayers and thoughts are with you and to your families. Your Mother lived a long and good life. Anna Mae Marner and Boomer (Jim) Dawson"
"To Fred and Phil, Prayers and thoughts are with you and to your families. Your Mother lived a long and good life. Anna Mae Marner and Boomer (Jim) Dawson"