Dan Alfred Miller

Dan Alfred Miller, 94, a long-time resident of Annandale, Va., and most recently residing in Arlington, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 18. He is survived by son Dr. Robert Miller and daughter Susan Miller; daughter-in-law Dorothy O’Connor Miller; three grandchildren Mark, Claire and Ryan Miller; sister-in-law Skolci Buchanan and brother-in-law Dave Buchanan; sister-in-law Dorothy Miller; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by wife Wanda Miller and brother Edwin Miller.

Dan was born in the small town of Greer, S.C. He graduated from high school at the early age of 15. At 18, he hitchhiked across country to live with half brothers and sisters in Los Angeles. Among his odd jobs, he worked as a messenger for Western Union in Hollywood and even delivered a telegram to actress Martha Raye.

Dan was a member of the Army’s 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion in World War II. He was involved in many treacherous campaigns, from the harried landings at Gela, Sicily, to the dicey terrain at Vietri-sul-Mare, Italy, to the fiery beachhead at Anzio. He was a survivor of the sinking of LST 422 en route to Anzio, for which he earned a Purple Heart. It was one of the biggest maritime losses of life in the war. Dan, like many members of his generation, didn’t like to talk about the war. It wasn’t until his family’s urgings in the past decade that he began to tell his story and eventually participated in reunions of the 83rd veterans group.

Following the war, Dan attended the University of Virginia where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949 and a Master’s in Economics in 1950. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In October 2014, he returned to Charlottesville for a treasured trip to his old stomping grounds and those of his two UVA graduate children.

Dan met the love of his life, his co-worker Wanda Dudek of Philadelphia, at the Navy's Bureau of Ships in 1956, and they were married at St. Thomas Apostle Church in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 1957. Their family soon grew to include a son and a daughter, and they moved from Springfield to Annandale in 1971, where the Millers were long time parishioners of St. Michael’s Catholic Church for over 50 years. Dan and Wanda resided together at the family home in Annandale until Wanda’s death in 2011.

Dan had a distinguished career in the federal government in Washington, D.C., over three decades. He worked his way up from a Grade 3 Clerk Typist in the Post Office in the 1950s to a position as a Grade 15 financial analyst in the Naval Supply Systems Command. Upon retirement in 1979, he was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, the highest award the naval commander can confer on a civilian.

After retirement Dan and Wanda took many trips both domestic and overseas. He had a particular fondness for Paris, a city he worked in after the war. He enjoyed taking trips to California to visit his son and family.

Dan had a passion and a flair for photography. He had many top of the line cameras, film and digital, his last being a cherished Leica M. He had a keen eye for taking “on the street” photos in the style of William Klein and Joel Meyerowtiz, often capturing subjects in interesting, funny and unaware moments. His daily routine since retirement would be to go for a walk and to bring along a camera to see what he might find. His favorite subjects included family members, wildlife in Mason District Park and dogs of every breed and disposition. Some of his most stunning photographs were taken in the last year of his life.

Dan was an unassuming man with a tough and enduring spirit, a dry wit and a razor sharp mind. He was fiercely independent well into his 90s, doing such things as buying a new lawnmower at 89, shoveling snow at 90, and going clothes shopping to the mall by himself at 93. He loved family, a beagle named Howard, talking politics, watching and fuming about the Washington Redskins, museums and photography exhibits, music (classical, big band and opera), reading and his Heineken beer. Dan was a good and humble man who will be truly missed by all of us who loved him.

Viewing at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA,2-4pm and 6-8 pm on Friday, January 23, 2015. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11am on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 Washington, Blvd, Arlington, VA. A future burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Conquer Cancer Foundation in memory of Dan Miller (www.conquercancerfoundation.org).