Born 8/2/1926 - Died 7/20/2021
Reverend Richard W. Miller, 94, of Evansville, IN passed away peacefully on Tuesday July 20, 2021. Richard was born in Dearborn, MI on August 2, 1926, to William and Lillian Miller (Krueger).
Richard graduated from Dearborn High in 1944 and joined the Navy at age 18, serving honorably during World War II in the South Pacific effort. After returning home, he attended and graduated from Michigan State University majoring in chemistry. Not long after earning his undergraduate and starting work as a chemist, he had a higher calling and entered the seminary at Capital University in Bexley, OH where he became an ordained Lutheran minister in 1955.
Richard was an active Lutheran Pastor for 62 years positively impacting many lives. He served at multiple churches including Emanuel Lutheran Church in Evansville where he was Lead Pastor for almost 30 years until his first retirement. He continued in post-retirement as an interim minister at other regional churches including Faith Lutheran in Madisonville and Holy Cross in Rockport. He found great joy and many friends in his second phase of ministering and finally retired for good at age 90. During his career he was also active in the community including being the long-time chair for Lutherans for Habitat where they successfully financed and built new thriving neighborhoods in the Evansville area.
Richard was fortunate enough to find love twice in his life. He met his first wife, Margery J. Miller at an early age in Sunday School in Dearborn and later they were married which lasted 41 years until she passed away in 1990. Richard met and fell in love with Verda Miller in 1996 whom he was married to for 23 years until her death in 2019.
Richard had many joys in life including fishing, reading, and Michigan State sports but his greatest love was his family. He leaves behind his younger brother and sister, Robert Miller and Rhema Subject. Richard had nine children including Paula Kehrer (deceased), Portia Schlachter, Peter Miller, Philip Miller (Cindy), Patrick Miller (Jen), Piper Conati, Vernon Currin, Rick Elsie (deceased), and Leah Elsie. Additionally, he was surrounded by 13 grandchildren (Jeremy, Christian, Jessica, Joshua, Justin, Madeleine, Sydney, Sabrina, Katie, Lauren, Rick, Alexandra, and Holden) and 12 great grandchildren.
His Funeral Service will held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 308 North First Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47710 with Pastor James Culver officiating. Friends may visit on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Alexander East Chapel and on Saturday from 10:00 until service time at the church. Masks are strongly encouraged. Richard's service will be livestreamed beginning at 10:45 on Saturday, please visit the following link www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA.
Memorial contributions can be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church.
May he finally meet our Lord Jesus in Heaven.
