Don W. Miller

People seemed to love our Dad.  He has been described as genuine, kind, loving, hardworking, generous, and a man of integrity.  Sadly, we lost him on August 18, 2022, at the age of 95, at his home in Fremont.

Don Miller (DW) was born on March 4, 1927 to Harold T. and Elma Miller of Clyde, Ohio.  The family of ten children later moved to Green Springs where they operated a successful potato farm.  It has been told that DW was a delightful but spunky child, who, according to him, was the one most likely to get a paddling behind the woodshed.

He graduated from Green Springs High School in 1945 and immediately enlisted in the US Navy.  His stint in the Navy was short lived, as WWII ended shortly after enlisting.  Dad liked to tell that as soon as the Japanese found out he had enlisted, they surrendered.  Dad was always a jokester.  He could tell the same jokes time after time over the years, and they would still make you laugh.  He could be quite witty.  He had that way about him.

After leaving the Navy DW enrolled in the Ohio State University, but soon realized that college was not for him.  He tried a variety of jobs and ultimately found his passion-- he loved operating a bulldozer for a pipeline construction company.  He took much pride in his work and was driven to excellence in everything he did.  Don always had dreams of working for himself and formed a partnership in 1953, the Miller and Crum Company.  A year later he bought out his partner and founded Don W. Miller, Inc., a company that focused on bringing natural gas to communities in Ohio.  His brothers Dale, Karl, and Paul joined his organization and soon became integral to what eventually became Miller Pipeline Corporation, now headquartered in Indianapolis.  Miller Pipeline grew to become a nationwide brand in natural gas infrastructure industry, and remains a leader today, operating out of a number of locations across the United States.  In the 1970’s, Don founded a sister company, Miller Cable Company, specializing in highway lighting systems and electronic highway messaging systems. Miller Cable Company operates out of the original Miller Pipeline location in Green Springs, Ohio. 

Aside from pipelining, Don had many other passions.  He met his first wife, Harriet (Hoffman) Stone, at the Rainbow Ballroom in Fremont.  Together they had four daughters, Debbie (Dennis) King, Laurie (Mike) Sistrunk, Barbara (Rick) D’Angelo, and Donna (Jim) Drake, whom he leaves behind to cherish his memory.  In 1985 he married the true love of his life, Carolyn (Gamble) Winton, who gave him three wonderful step-children, Mike (Sandy) Sheffler, Joe (Sheryl) Sheffler, and Lisa (Todd) Roper.  Don was also blessed with fifteen grand and step-grandchildren who survive him: Natalie, Jeremy, Chelsea, Wesley, Ellie, Eric, Abbey, Melanie, Elissa, Courtney, Morgan, Tyler, Taylor, Hunter, and Sidney; and ten great-grandchildren.

Don is also survived by his brothers Karl (Lynette) Miller, Dale (Judy) Miller, all in the Indianapolis area, Dean (Amie) Miller of New Orleans, and sister, Joyce (Tom) Craig of Green Springs.  Don was preceded in death by his parents, his beautiful wife, Carolyn, and also by his brothers, Glenn Miller, George Miller, Frank Miller, and Paul Miller, and sister, Elsie Ayres.  He also was preceded in death by his best friend, Ed Celek, and a grandson, Louis D’Angelo.

Don bought the historic Peninsular Farms in 1979, where he and Carolyn spent the entirety of their 37 years of married life. They truly adored the farm and each other.  Peninsular Farms soon became the venue of many family weddings and parties, family reunions, and family hayrides, and community events as well.  He loved to share his farm with everyone.   It is there that he will be buried next to Carolyn, in a private ceremony. 

His loves were many, in addition to his family, his farm, and his Labrador, Joe.  He loved to fly, which he did for many years in business and pleasure, and continued to do so, culminating with a solo flight on his 90^th birthday, after which he put his Piper Cub out to pasture.  In 2017, Don received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA.  Another of Don’s biggest passions was motorcycles—Indian Motorcycles, to be specific.  He rode one as a teenager, and continued to ride and collect them over many, many years.  He became actively involved in the Indian Four-Cylinder Motorcycle Club, and hosted several of their annual picnics at Peninsular Farms.  There he gained numerous friends who became dear and lasting parts of his life.  Don loved boats, antique cars, and snowmobiles.  If it was a toy, he wanted to have one!   

Don was a member or former member of many organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, the Green Springs American Legion, the Distribution Contractors Association, the Fremont Yacht Club.  He was a friend of Clyde-Green Springs schools, the Green Springs Volunteer Fire Department, the Fremont YMCA.  He was a big proponent of higher education, and created two scholarship foundations for graduating seniors from Fremont Ross and St. Joseph Central Catholic High Schools, as well as for graduating seniors from Clyde-Green Springs High School, and children of Miller Pipeline and Miller Cable Company employees.

Don will be missed for many years to come by those who knew him.  His sense of humor, stories, and smile will live in our hearts forever.

The family will host visitation Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, 900 North Street, Fremont, OH, 43420, on Friday, August 26, from 3-6 p.m.  A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 27, 4:00 p.m., at Peninsular Farms, 2716 Whittaker Drive, Fremont, OH, 43420.  Please join us in a meal and a toast to DW, and by sharing your stories, jokes, and special memories with all who loved him. Burial will be private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research by visiting: www.michaeljfox.org.

To express online condolences and to watch Don’s Tribute Video, please visit: www.hermanfh.com.

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