Thomas J. Miller

Thomas J. Miller, 96, of Elmore, Ohio, died Friday, March 27, 2015 at his home. I was born on May 2, 1918 at Kalida, Ohio. My father was Henry Franklin Miller and my mother was Mary Amanda (Warden) Miller. I was one of nine children. My brothers and sisters who have passed on before me are George Thorton Miller, Carl Franklin Miller, Wanda Elizabeth Miller, Lois Elane Miller, Mary Joan Miller, Kenneth Amos Miller, Ethel Delia Miller, and Alice Louise Miller. I graduated from Woodville High School in 1936, and was the first graduating class to wear a cap and gown. My first marriage was to Leona Patricia Emlinger from East Toledo, Ohio, in 1940. She passed away in 1994 after a long illness. We had 2 children, Karen Ann Miller (Larry) Albright and Thomas Allen (Linda) Miller, and their children, Paul (Laurie) Dupler, Tonna Palmer, Tom A. (Heather) Miller, Jr., and Hayley Miller (Nathan) Schultze. Great grandchildren, Paul (Lauren) Dupler, Jr., Danielle Dupler, Janae', Brandea, Dustin, Keith, and Calvin Palmer, Thomas, Kyla, and Brayden Miller, and Summer Schultze. I have 6 great-great grandchildren. I joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, and served 3 years and 13 days. The last six months I ran a radio direction station located in Greenland, giving compass headings to aircraft flying over the North Atlantic. After I returned home from the service, I went back to my old job with Champion Spark Plug Co. working in the inspection department. I retired from there in 1981 after 39 years of service. I was a veteran aircraft pilot who flew many different types of aircraft for over 50 years. I built, tested, and flew my own aircraft called a "Teenie-Two". I also built and flew many radio-controlled aircraft. I have or had membership in American Legion Post #279 where I served as Service Officer; Portage Valley Flying Club; Toledo Auto Club; St. Paul-Trinity United Methodist Church; the Elmore Church of God; East Toledo Senior Center; The Wood County Historical Society; Elmore Historical Society; Old Timer's Pilots Group of the Toledo Area; the Elmore Sesquicentennial Committee; helped to organize and am a member of the Elmore Golden Oldies Senior Center; a past member of the Elmore Railroad Club; Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association; Experimental Aircraft Association; American Model Aircraft Association; Oregon Senior Center; and the Toledo Zoo. In 2005, I was inducted into the Ottawa County Senior Hall of Fame, receiving a plaque thinking me for outstanding service in Ottawa County. I taught Senior Citizens line dancing at the Elmore Community Building from 2002-2012. I volunteered my teaching time, because I felt exercise was not only good for me, but for others too. On December 23, 1995, I married my present wife, Betty Marlow Miller. We were married in Grand Rapids, OH. The latest years have been very happy ones with Betty because she has been loving and caring to me. When I had my triple by-pass, Betty stayed up almost day and night taking care of me. After marrying Betty, my family grew to include her children, Vicki May Marlow (Antolin) Martinez, Diana Lynn Marlow (Kevin) Clark, Barry Miles (Liat) Marlow, Marsha Kay Marlow (Ed) Heber, Robert Alvy (Stephanie) Marlow, Randy Lee (Mary Jo) Marlow, and extended family, Sara Myles, Jane (Ralph) Myers, and Tim Kolodziejczyk, 31 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. I want my children to know that I have loved them dearly. I take great pride in my family and extended family. I leave behind so many loving and caring nieces, nephews, and friends. A celebration of Tom's life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 11, 2015 at the Elmore Church of God, 310 Congress Street, Elmore, where his family will receive friends after 10:00 A.M. Saturday. His final resting place will be at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo. Heartland Hospice of Fremont cared for Tom to the very end. A special thank you goes to Julie and Tammy for their excellent care. Contributions in Tom's memory may be made to Heartland Hospice, the Elmore Church of God, American Legion Post #279, Portage Valley Flying Club, or St. Paul-Trinity United Methodist Church. Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Elmore-Genoa Chapel is caring for Tom's family and online condolences may be shared at www.crosserfuneralhome.com. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Elmore-Genoa Chapel 19550 West State Route 51 Elmore, OH 43416