Samuel George Miller

Sam was born March 7, 1938 in the hill country of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. After a childhood of playing in the hills and hollers of Somerset, he left Pennsylvania, studied at the University of Findlay, and later enlisted in the Navy as a cryptologist and achieved the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. The Navy brought Sam all over the world, but most importantly it led him to Bremerhaven, Germany. While there he would meet the love of his life, Hannelore (Freyer) Miller, another member of a wedding party he had been asked to join at the last moment due to another serviceman's change of assignment. The two married and celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Virginia in Bremerhaven. His tours of duty took the family to Morocco, Puerto Rico, where they had their second daughter, Sabina, Alaska, the Panama Canal Zone, and then finally Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. Sam was both an artist and a passionate advocate for gender equality in the military, which directly led to his second career as a tailor. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1976, he opened his shop, Feminine Flair. In a time when women could only find men’s uniforms, Feminine Flair specialized in making Navy uniforms tailored for women stationed around the world. Sam’s artistic side occupied half of his tailor shop which was devoted to designing custom swimwear. In the last 35 years of Sam’s tailor career, Feminine Flair became renown for tailoring flight suits for the Blue Angel Flight Demonstration Team. Sam’s original flight suits, along with his historical replicas can be seen on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum’s Silver Eagles Exhibit – and, of course, dashing through the skies when worn by Blue Angel pilots. Sam wrote many letters over the years to recommend women pilots capable of becoming Blue Angel F-18 pilots and was elated to see that happen in his lifetime, just one month before he passed, when Lt. Amanda Lee was selected. Beyond his career, Sam had many passions and hobbies. He was a genealogist and historian, especially interested in the local history of his birthplace. He has published numerous historical articles as well as the historical novel, "A Place Called Hexie." He was a faithful member of Epiphany Lutheran Church, and a lifelong student of theology. He was a Sunday School teacher, lector, and church leader.

Samuel Miller was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Marie King, his father, Austin Broderick Miller, his sisters, Freda (Jay) McClintock and Velma (Armand) Libatore, and brother Clyde (Justine) Miller. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Hannelore Herta Miller, his daughters Virginia Miller (Lance Williamson) and Sabina (Michael) O’Neil, his sisters Martha “Jane” (Roy Paul) Tressler and Betty (Ed) Chonko, his brothers Austin (Linda) Miller and Paul (Nancy) Miller, his grandchildren Timothy O’Neil (Kimberly Hynd), Stacy O’Neil (Josh Kulinski), Maire Williamson, and Ruauri Williamson, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

There will be a Visitation with refreshments August 21, 2022 at 11:30 am at Epiphany Lutheran Church (6700 Spanish Trail, Pensacola, FL 32504), followed by a Memorial Service at 1:00 pm. Reverend Franklin Gore will be presiding. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Somerset Historical Society, the Epiphany Lutheran Church, or another charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oaklawnfunerals.com for the Miller family.