Tuesday, November 03, 2009

 

Ruth W. Miller

 

Ruth Wilkinson Miller, 90, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Born in Butler, Tenn., on February 17, 1919, she was one of seven children of the late Hiram Curtis Wilkinson and Katherine Waggoner Wilkinson. She was married to Joseph G. Miller, a minister of the Gospel who was ordained by the Elk River Baptist Church in 1940. In his early years of ministry, Joseph Miller was pastor of churches in Johnson and Carter County, Tenn., and in the final 22 years of his life, he was a frequent interim pastor and Bible study teacher in the area. After the death of her beloved husband Joseph in 1989, Ruth resided in Statesville, N.C. Grandchildren Eric and Jason Palmer of Lilburn, Ga., preceded her in death.

 

Survivors include her five children, Loren G. Miller and wife Anna of Morristown, Tenn., Rachel Miller Palmer, wife of the late Mack Palmer, of Lilburn, Ga., C. Vinson Miller and wife Patricia of Waynesville, N.C., Hersey E. Miller and wife Gwen of Statesville, N.C., and Kathrine S. Miller-Todd and husband Richard of Des Moines, Iowa. Surviving grandchildren are Loanne Thompson, Tina Byrd, David Palmer, Lynn Miller, Lori Buckheister, Nan Miller and Benjamin and Emily Miller-Todd. Great-grandchildren are Lesley Ann, Wesley and Bradley Thompson and Ashley and Zackery Palmer.

 

A memorial service celebrating Ruth’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, at First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Avenue, Statesville, N.C. At noon on Thursday, November 5, the family will receive friends at the Memorial Funeral Chapel, 212 N. Main Street, Elizabethton, Tenn., with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey Porter, Senior Minister of First Baptist Church, Statesville, N.C., will officiate at both services. Interment will follow in the W.A. Miller Family Cemetery in the Elk River community. Memorials may be made to the Tennessee Baptist Foundation at P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37204. Condolences to the Miller family may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net. Memorial Funeral Chapel, Elizabethton, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.