Joseph Lee Miller

Joseph Lee (Joe) Miller passed away Tuesday evening, March 5, 2024, at Our Hospice in Columbus, IN, due to multiple medical conditions. He was born on September 2, 1945, to Charles D. and Emma Mae Crabtree Miller. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Margaret E. Hamilton; brothers James R. Miller and Tom D. Miller; nephews Jeffrey A. Redifer, Bruce J. Henderson, and Michael J. Miller; and his stepson L. Philip Dobbins. Survivors include his wife, Janice L. Carbine Miller of Seymour; sisters Judith A. (Arthur) Spoor of Shelbyville, Carol J. (Gregory) Fouts of Hendersonville, NC, and Mary E. Miller-Stolz of Florence, KY; brother C. Norman (Emma) Miller of Bladensburg, MD; 4 step-children; 6 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was a 1963 graduate of Martinsville High School. He graduated from Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1969 and later earned a teaching certificate from Indiana University. He taught high school science for many years. He also worked at gun shops in Martinsville for several years and spent time driving a milk truck and the Morgan County public library bookmobile. He eventually retired from Cummins Engine Company. Joe converted to the LDS faith in 1991, and from then on it was an important part of his life. Joe met Jan at a church event in 1992, and they married the following year in the Chicago, Illinois, Temple. He loved children and doted on everyone he met, a habit he started early in life by being an active part of the lives of his many nieces and nephews. Joe always found ways to make people, especially children, feel loved. In his later years, this was most memorably done by bringing Hot Wheels and candy to church on Sundays for the kids there. A great joy and honor in Joe's life was spending countless hours with his grandchildren and as much time as possible with his great-nieces and great-nephews. Joe enjoyed many diverse hobbies over his life and was always eager to share them with everyone around him. This included demonstrating his rockets and model airplanes, teaching his friends and family to shoot firearms, identifying every odd tree around by its leaves and bark, and putting countless hours into family history work, both researching his own family tree and helping others with their research, individually and through the LDS church. He took great pride in serving as a senior missionary with his wife, assigned specifically to the LDS Church and Family History Headquarters Mission in Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held at the North Vernon Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 430 Hayden Pike, on Saturday, March 9. Visitation will be held from 11 AM – 2 PM, with the service to be held at 2 PM with Bishop Tracy Lykins officiating. Joe will be interred at Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Dearborn County, IN, at 10:00 AM, Monday, March 11. You are invited to view his video tribute, light a virtual candle of remembrance, and leave a condolence message to the family online at www.jewellrittman.com.