Norman was raised on a dairy farm in Harrisonburg, VA and voluntarily enlisted with the Air Force during the Korean War. His first weekend home after honorable discharge he proposed to Mary Vivian Call who became his lifelong partner. He pursued further education and obtained his teaching degree from Madison College and later while working he completed his Master’s Degree from Columbia University. While working and pursing further education, Norman and Mary began their family with first one, then two, then three children in Montgomery County, MD. Norman taught business education at the high school level. He was an exemplary teacher known to go the second mile with helping his students. Near the end of his MD teaching career he also became a real estate agent, winning many times the “top agent” of the month service awards.
Norman’s one hobby was gardening and his yards blossomed. He was a worker bee always willing to give a helping hand to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Finally in 1984 he retired from teaching in Maryland and moved to Florida to fulfill a long-held dream of living there. For many of his first years in Florida he continued to work – teaching at Edison Community College and selling real estate. Finally again, he retired and on his 60th birthday he began a long battle of fighting first one illness after another. These past 13 months his illnesses made him bed bound at home.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Mary Vivian Miller; son Carl Edward Miller of Tallahassee, FL; daughter Norma Jean Miller of Cape Coral, FL and his youngest son Norman Lee Miller, Jr. of Frederick, MD. He also leaves behind a sister Bernice Golladay of Matthews, NC and brother James Nelson Miller of Port Republic, VA; 4 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 older brothers.
The family will receive friends 5-7:00 pm, Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.
A funeral service will be held 2:30 pm, Sunday, November 2, at the Chapel of the funeral home with Pastor Wayne Wright officiating. Burial will be in Woodbine Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Norman’s name may be made to National Parkinson’s Foundation 200 SE 1st Street Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or Disabled Veterans of America.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyharrisonburg.com.
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