Obit of Miller, Jr., Thomas Irvine - Texas County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Shelly Lynch 04 Feb 2007 Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Sunset Memorial Gardens--Odessa TX Thomas Irvine Miller, Jr. was born near Tyrone, Oklahoma on April 5th, 1912 to Thomas Irvine Miller and Patsy Collins Park Miller. He was the fourth of five children. He went to be with his Lord on March 19th, 2006 at Parks Methodist Retirement Village at the age of 93. Although he was born in Oklahoma, he grew up in western Kansas and always considered that home. He spent many years working on the family farm. After the time known as the Dust Bowl Days, he left for West Texas where he took a job with Cabot Carbon Black Plant in Pyote, Texas. During his time there he met and married his wife of 66 years, Ruby Inez Adams Miller. Irvine enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was stationed at the base between Midland and Odessa known as "Warfield." This is where he "fit' the Battle of Midland" for the next four years as an airplane mechanic. After attending school on the G.I. Bill, he became a certified "watchmaker," working for the next 42 years in Midland. He retired from Houck's Jewelry in 1992 at the age of 80 and moved to Odessa to be closer to family. They were members of Highland United Methodist Church. Thomas Irvine Miller, Jr. was known by lots of different names - Irvine, Sam, TIM, T.L., sometime Mr. Miller, but best known as Pawpaw. By whatever name you knew him, you must agree he was one-of- a-kind. He may perhaps be best remembered for the mischievous sparkle in his eyes, his unique sense of humor and funny "so-tales." Some may have called these stories "tall tales." However, he always reminded us they were "almost always based on fact." If you knew him, you couldn't help but love him. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, Park and Embry; and sisters, Elizabeth and Nancy. He is survived by his wife Ruby Inez Miller; daughter, Lois Ann Chenot, son-in-law Paul Chenot; grandson and wife, Scott and Lori Smith; granddaughter and husband Patrick and Lori Pruitt and great-grandchildren, Jess and Peyton Pruitt. Pawpaw is also survived by many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. The family would like to extend special thanks to the Parks Methodist Retirement Village staff and to Odyssey Hospice for the kind and compassionate care during Pawpaw's last months. Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow immediately at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The Reverends Mark Scott and William Billett will be officiating. Memorial may be made to Parks Methodist Retirement Village (3301 Faudree Rd., Odessa, TX 79765), Odyssey Hospice (2651 John Ben Shepperd Pkwy., Odessa, TX 79761), or Highland United Methodist Church (1808 N. Dixie Blvd., Odessa, TX 79761). Arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home in Odessa, Texas. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html