Joseph Ewing Miller III

He was the son of the late Lt. Col. Joseph Ewing Miller Jr. and the late Margaret Wood Miller. He was also predeceased by his sister Sinclair Miller Williams. He is survived by niece Margaret Innis Williams, her husband Jarred Umbro, great nephew Luka, Framingham MA, and a close network of cousins and extended family.

Joe grew up in a military family with his father a decorated Air Force pilot and lived in Alabama, Colorado, and Turkey among other stops during his childhood. Joe served in the Navy for four years during the Vietnam era and then returned to Athens where his parents had retired.

Joe had a brilliant mechanical mind and could fix just about anything. He took pride in always having the right tool for any job. He used these skills as he spent most of his career working on HVAC systems in government buildings. Away from work he was always resourceful and creative with artistic talent and enjoyed making jewelry, sculpture, and unique and ornate pieces out of scrap copper, silver, wood, wire, and oyster shells that he routinely gave as prized gifts to family and friends.

An avid outdoorsman, Joe especially enjoyed the Georgia coast and made many trips over his lifetime to a family vacation home near Darien that he maintained with his cousins. Joe was always affectionately known as “Spike” by his family and close friends. Spike had a generous heart, and he patiently shared his extensive knowledge of coastal wildlife, fishing, crabbing, and boating with 3 generations of extended family. He was truly one of a kind and will be missed by all.

A celebration of his life will be held at a future date at the coastal property.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.