William Miller

Waynesville, NC-Bill Miller died January 5, 2005. He left us suddenly, a vibrant, caring, funny man. Born William Alvin Miller to William Alvin, Sr. and Ruth Fisher Miller on June 19, 1925 in Clarksville, GA, he grew up on West Peachtree Street in Atlanta, in the shadow of his beloved Georgia Tech. Bill attended Boy's High and then Georgia Tech. He was known as "Wild Bill" on his high school basketball team, then served proudly on the United States Marine Corps basketball team during WWII. Bill graduated from Georgia Tech in 1950 with a degree in electrical engineering. While in college, he met his bride-to-be, Lora Jennings Payne, who attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur. They were married in 1949. He was an electrical engineer and project manager at Phillips Chemical Company (Borger, TX), Union Carbide (Oak Ridge, TN), Patchen, Mingledorff and Associates (Atlanta & Augusta, GA), John Portman and Associates (Atlanta), Ford, Bacon & Davis (Monroe, LA) and Walt Disney Imagineering (Glendale, CA and Orlando, FL). Bill thoroughly enjoyed the work and adventure of varied places such as NYC, Singapore and San Francisco. He and Jenn "retired" to the hills of Waynesville, NC, where he renovated their lovely home and returned to the Disney organization as a consultant. He also served Meals on Wheels each week in Haywood County and was an active member of the Waynesville Lions Club. Bill and Jenn raised three daughters in Decatur, GA. He was always active in church activities, first at Decatur First Baptist, serving as Deacon and Youth Sunday School teacher. At St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Canton, NC he served as Treasurer. His family and friends remember his humor and willingness to help whenever he was needed. The world is less bright with his passing, but his legacy of laughter remains with all who loved him. He is survived by his wife, Jenn; daughters, Jean, Carol, and Kesavi; son-in-laws, Bill Adams and Rasanatha Dasa; grandsons, Silas and Connor; and beloved dog Coco. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2005 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Canton with Reverend Timothy McRee officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following in the parrish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, West Carolina Chapter Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644. A memorial service will take place in Atlanta at a later date.

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