Richard W. Miller

Richard W. Miller, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, grandfather, printer, fisherman, hunter died peacefully at 6:55 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2024 with his family gathered around his bed at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on April 25, 1939 in Niles to Frank and Clara (Anderson) Miller, and attended Niles Community Schools.  He was first employed by the New York Central Railroad in its Elkhart freight yards, repairing railroad car wheelsets.  He then was employed in the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company as a printing press operator, retiring in 2001 after 32 years of service.  He has always lived in Niles.

Dick enjoyed fishing, taking many annual fishing trips to Ely, Minnesota, and more recently taking fishing trips up-north in Michigan.  He hunted locally for deer, small game, and morel mushrooms, and had a 1949 Ford Coupe in the garage awaiting new upholstery.  He enjoyed being outdoors, tending to his lawn and garden, but his greatest joy was his family.

On November 25, 1960 in Buchanan, Michigan he married the former Dorothy B. Barlett with whom he celebrated two months ago the remarkable Sixty-third Anniversary of their wedding.   He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his six siblings, Evelyn Almon, Mary Bachman, Helen McKibbin, Francis “Hinny” Miller, Paul Miller, and Frank “Pete” Miller.

Surviving family includes his wife, Dorothy Miller of Niles and their children, Nancy (& Ken) Metz of South Bend, and Michael (& Susan) Miller of Niles; grandchildren Codey Miller, Brandon Metz, Scot (& Carly Barton) Miller, Jordan (& Tara) Metz, Cameron (& Brianna Guennel) Metz, and Daniel Miller; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Richard Miller will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Louis Staubs of Niles officiating.  Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home beginning at Noon.  Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Eighty-four years is a long life, and Dick used those years well, as a productive member of his community at two employers, and enjoying creation while outdoors fishing, hunting, and yardwork; but more important were the people in his life, especially his family, and the grandkids, and loving Dorothy.