University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. H. Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Register for:
M2005.12.1 - J. Alfred Miller Collection
 

Box 4 - Folder 16 - Family and Genealogy
Box Folder Item I.D. Description Thumbnail
4 16 1 JOSEPH ALFRED MILLER

CORPORATION EXECUTIVE: Born Richmond, Virgina, February 23, 1907. Son of Ernest Hutchinson and Caroline (Lipscombe) Miller. Married Berenice Kathleen Moss, September 5, 1929. One son James Alfred Miller. Student U.N.C., Chapel Hill 1953-1954. President Miller Printing Company, Asheville, N. C. 1930-1971. President Millco, Inc. 1972- date. Trustee Asheville-Biltmore College 1958-1963; Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, N. C., 1961-1965. Chairman Asheville Redevelopment Commission 1961-1970. Recipient Special Award City of Asheville 1970. Member Printing Industries of the Carolinas, President 1955,Honorary 1982. Member Blue Ridge Parkway Association, President 1963-1964. Asheville Chamber of Commerce, Director 1955-1967, Vice-President 1966, Special Award 1954. Democrat. Presbyterian, Chairman Board of Deacons 1954. Greater Asheville Council, President 196 9. Mountain City Club, Director and Secretary 1960-61. Country Club of Asheville, President 1950. Member Asheville Chapter American Business Club, President 1938. Member Asheville Chapter Rotary International, 1955-date. Honorary member Asheville office First Union National Bank.

BLOOD KIN

Father; Died August 19, 1958, (Aneuoysm) Age 78
Mother; Died March 9, 1915, (Pneumonia) Age 44
Sister: Living Age 83
Brother: Died November 14, 1986 (Heart) Age
77 Brother; Living Age 75

MEDICAL

OPERATIONS: Tonsils/Adenoids; Dr. Eugene B. Glenn, 1917
                            Hernia; Dr. John L. Hazelhurst, June 17, 1980

DOCTORS

Dr. Samuel L. Crow, Cardiology (Retired)
Dr. Virgil Thrash, Internal Medicine

Dr. George G. Gilbert, Urology (Retired)
Dr. W. 0. Brazil, Urology

Dr. Walter Watts, Orthopedic (Retired)
Dr. David L. Cappiello, Orthopedic

Dr. Edward E. Moore, Ophthalmology

Dr. Benjamin R. Olinger, Otorhinolaryngology

Dr. Jerry N. Ariail, Dermotology

Dr. Max W. Carpenter, Dentist

December 1987

(Authorship uncertain, but seems likely to have been written by Miller)

    2 Four pages of handwritten notes by Miller's sister Lillian in which she outlines the Miller family genealogy from 1745. N.D.  
    3 Three pages of handwritten notes (likely by Miller's sister Lillian, as the handwriting is the same as item #2) describing the lineage back to King Edward III. N.D. [2 copies]  
    4 Photocopy of page from Fredericksburg, VA. [1910-911] Directory, p.163 listing members of Miller's family. [2 copies. 1 includes typed addition (likely by Miller) showing kinship to Miller.]
    5 Copy of, birth certificate of Joseph Alfred Miller, b. February 23, 1907
    6 Copy of, letter from U.S. Department of Commerce, dated July 15, 1958, showing entry for Alfred Miller in the 1910 census
    7 Copy of, birth certificate of Berenice Kathleen Moss [Mrs. Bunny Miller] b. July 29, 1910
    8 Copy of, marriage certificate of J. Alfred Miller and Berenice Moss, September 5, 1929
    9 Letter dated July 30, 1918, sent to Miller from his aunt Mabel [his late mother's sister], in which she says how much she misses him and would like him to visit.
    10 Description [by Homer Miller] of auto trip undertaken by Alfred Miller and his brother Homer from Asheville to Montana, Copy of page from The Asheville Tab newspaper, October 3, 1926.  
    11 First page of letter (presumably from Miller) to "Dearest and sweetest Bunny". Sent from Martinsville, VA, December 7, 1928 [Remaining page(s) of letter not in collection.]  
    12 Photocopies of Registration Certificate [d. October 16, 1941] and five "Notice of Classification" [Draft Card] for Joseph Alfred Miller. 1941 to 1945  
    13 Copy of Miller's biography (possibly draft for local Who's Who type publication?). July 15, 1985 [Similar to, and may be an early draft of, bio included in #1]  
    14 Declaration of a desire for a natural death for Joseph Alfred Miller, signed and witnessed February 24, 1986  
    15 Letter dated April 21, 1987, from Lewis memorial Park, Inc. to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Miller regarding construction of the Chapel of Faith Mausoleum. Attached is a copy of a certificate, dated August 3, 1934, identifying Miller as the owner of a plot at the Lewis Memorial Park.  
    16 Letter dated October 19, 1989, from Lewis memorial Park, Inc. to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Miller, enclosing Emergency Identification Card(s). [Cards not included in collection.]  
    17 Death certificate for Berenice Kathleen Miller, October 2, 1993
    18 Berenice M. Miller

Berenice M. Miller, 83, of 400 Charlotte St., died Saturday, Oct. 2, in an Asheville hospital.

A lifelong resident of Asheville, she was a daughter of the late James D. and Wilma Turnbull Moss. She was a charter member of the Woman's Civic Club and was a volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital and the children's unit at Thom's Rehabilitation Hospital. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are her husband, J. Alfred Miller; a son, James Alfred Miller of Asheville; a sister, Virginia Rickman of Asheville; and a grandchild.

Memorial services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the main sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Zachary T. Piephoff officiating.

The family will receive friends following the service.

Memorials may be made to ( Presbyterian Home for Children at Black Mountain 28711.

Morris Funeral Home, Merrimon Avenue, is in charge of arrangements

[Asheville Citizen-Times, October 3, 1993]


Thumbnail only
    19 A Witness to the Resurrection Memorial Service, Berenice Moss Miller, October 3, 1993  
    20 "My heart cries out for Bunny: September 10, 1994" Poem by Albert Rowswell, eulogy  for Bunny (by Miller), and extract from book by Vance Havner. (Possibly from a remembrance for Bunny Miller?)
    21 Three cards from Alfred Miller to Bunny Miller; birthday 1928, Christmas 1928, Christmas 1926. (Cards are affixed to page from photo album, and cannot be removed without being damaged.)
    22 Obituary for Mrs. Mattie Miller [grandmother of J. Alfred Miller], Asheville Citizen, January 16, 1939.

Report form Asheville Times, April 17, 1942, covering reclassification of registrants, including Charles Waverly Miller [brother of Alfred Miller].

[Clippings were photocopied on the same sheet of paper before donation to UNCA.]

 
    23 Obituary for Ernest H. Miller [father of J. Alfred Miller]. Asheville Citizen, August 20, 1958. [2 copies, one includes an In Memoriam notice from an unidentified publication.]  
    24 Copy of clipping from unidentified newspaper regarding the wedding of {Alfred Miller's brother] Charles Waverly Miller and Mary Lee Howell. [N.D. but thought to be 1948, based on #25.]  
    25 Obituary for Mary "Bay" Miller. Asheville Citizen-Times, October 5, 1995  
    26 Service of remembrance for Troy Hubert Womack, husband of Miller's sister Lillian. April 12, 1987  
    27 Clipping from unidentified newspaper describing life of Homer and Betty Miller prior to them leaving Dhahran [Saudi Arabia]. February 21, 1968.  
    28 OBITUARY - Ernest "HOMER" Miller

Alamo, California

E. Homer Miller, 77, an Alamo, California resident for the past 18 years, suffered a cardiac arrest Friday, November 14, and died while in a coma a week later.

Homer led an active, independent life to the end, never ceasing in his intolerance of bigotry, flim-flam, "tourist-traps" and insincerity. Long endeared - and endured - for his humorous wit, he believed in honesty, simplicity and hard work. A lover of cooking, gardening, opera, travel, theatre and golf, Homer leaves friends and acquaintances around the world. In accordance with Homer's wishes, no ceremony was held, and his remains were scattered at sea. The Miller family suggests contributions in Homer's memory may be made to the Merola Opera Program, c/o War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 94102.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Homer learned type-setting and typography in his father's printing business, thereby working his way through the Depression and graduation from the University of Chicago. He later earned his"law degree from Georgetown and was licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. First working for New Deal programs, Homer joined with SoCal (Chevron) as an attorney in 1941 and ARAMCO in 1944, in San Francisco. Later working in ARAMCO's Washington DC, and New York offices, Homer and family moved to Dhahran Saudi Arabia in 1952 where he lived until retirement to California in 1968.

Homer was an active San Francisco Opera enthusiast and supporter of the Merola Opera Program, a member of the Contra Costa Country Club and the Contra Costa SIRS. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betty, three sons: Craig, of Oakland; Randy, of Danville; and Scott, of Austin, Texas; and five grandchildren.

[Also included in the collection are a clipping of the  obituary from an unidentified newspaper, and an obituary (based on the above?) from the Asheville Citizen-Times, November 23, 1986.

    29 IN CELEBRATION OF BETTY MILLER'S LIFE

Born Elizabeth Louise Meininger, Betty Miller, a ten-year resident of Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, died Sunday, March 15 at age 83 from complications of a broken hip she suffered last December.

Betty was born in Denver, CO, in 1914, and attended the University of Colorado where she became a life-long member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She worked in the 30's on Betty Boop cartoons for the Max Fleisher Studios in New York City where she also took flying lessons. She was an avid golfer, an accomplished and competitive bridge player, a worldwide traveler and an active supporter of the Arts with a special love for the opera, ballet and symphony. Betty and her deceased husband, Ernest (Homer) Miller, (who died in 1986), were an adventurous couple, having lived in San Francisco, Washington DC., New York and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia during which time Homer worked for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), before retiring to Alamo, CA in 1967.

Betty had a zest for life, socializing and helping others. She was a long-time volunteer for the Glacier Guild of the John Muir Medical Center Auxiliary in Walnut Creek, and a member of the Contra Costa Golf Club. In Saudi Arabia, Betty was a cofounder of the Dhahran Women's Exchange, a Cub Scout Denmother, a travel agent for Lufthansa, active in the Dhahran Gourmet Club and the Dhahran Woman's Group, and conducted the first cooking classes on local Saudi TV.

She is survived by her sister, Phyllis Dolezal of Mill City, OR, and three sons and their families: Craig and Harriet (Dusty) Miller of Santa Cruz, CA, then-daughters Liza of Atlanta and Trina of New York City; Randy and Helen Miller of Danville, CA, and their sons Evan and Casey; and Scott and Judy Miller of Dhahran, Saudi Ar abia and their sons Travis and Curtis.

In accordance with her wishes, Betty's ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean with no services.

Betty's sons, Scott, Randy and Craig, invite you to a gathering of family and friends at Betty's home in Rossmoor on April 14th, from noon until 2, in celebration of her life. Food and refreshment in Betty's fashion will be available. (If you are planning to attend, please call Betty's son, Craig Miller at 408-426-0835 or Randy Miller at 510-820-5436.) During the celebration we will be sharing our special memories of Betty. If you have good stories or anecdotes to share but can't attend, we would love to have them - these can be sent to Betty's home: 3874 Terra Granada, # 3c, Walnut Creek, CA 94595.

The family also asks that in lieu of flowers that gifts may be made in Betty's memory to the Festival Opexa, attn. Buz Kanter, 2678 N. Main St., Walnut Creek CA 94596.

[N.D.]

    30 Description and pencil drawing of the house of Dr. Pinckney Miller near Roebuck (South Carolina). N.D.