Joseph Miller

Joseph J. Miller, passed away on Monday morning, April 27, 2015, at the age of 89 years.
Services will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Deer. Rosary will be held Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 30 with Rev. Miecyslaw Przepiora of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rev. Aroka Samala of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Groom, co-concelebrating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in White Deer. Services are under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle.
Joseph James Miller was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma to Charles and Era Miller on Jan. 26, 1926. He was the third of four children.
He began his career in the Newspaper business at the age of eight by distributing The Oklahoma News on the street. When he was 14, he was finally old enough to get a job with the local daily newspaper, The Chickasha Daily Express. He worked part-time delivering and selling newspapers, working in the composing room, pouring pigs (melting lead for type) and operated the Linotype machines. He served his apprenticeship as a "Printer's Devil" until he became a journeyman and passed his Typographical Union test working for the newspaper, then Uncle Sam came calling during World War II.
In April 1944, Joe entered the Army at Fort Robinson, Ark., as an 18-year-old, one of the youngest drafted. He entered combat with the 6th Infantry Division, 63rd Division, Company G. They are now known as the famous "Red Star Doughboys." It was their job to stop the Japanese in the South Pacific. Corporal Miller was awarded, along with his division, the Presidential Citation for action taken in Kiangan. This citation was for outstanding gallantry and heroism against the enemy. He was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, Victory Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Rifle Sharp Shooter Badge. With the end of World War II, he was sent to Korea to help push the Japanese and Communists out of South Korea.
After serving his country, Joe returned to the newspaper business. Ironically, the oath he had taken "...to serve and protect the Constitution of the United States of America" would be utilized for many years to come. The precious benefit of the freedom of speech and freedom of the press would loom large in the newspaper industry and in Joe Miller's daily life. For the next 15 years, he would work as a production foreman and composing room foreman at the Daily Express. He married Melva Jean Howard in April of 1951 and together they had three children, Phillip J. born in 1953, Teri Jean in 1955 and Rodney Joseph in 1959.
The newspaper industry changed so many times in his career, but he dreamed that he would someday own and publish his own newspaper. He and wife, Jean, purchased the White Deer News from the Cavanaughs in 1961 and moved their family to White Deer, Texas.
In 1971, Miller purchased the Panhandle Herald from Publisher Don Peoples, and made the change in both newspapers from linotype to compugraphic machines. Still "cutting and pasting," Miller eventually saw the beginning of the computer desktop publishing. He and other area publishers saw the need for off-site printing of newspapers and other publications, and he became a stock holder in the Palo Duro Offset Printing Press. He was installed as a member of the Panhandle Press Hall of Fame in 1999, and completely retired from publishing when he sold both newspapers in 2009 to Frank and Shaun Wink.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Catherine; and brother, Bill.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean; son, Phillip Miller and wife, Ruthie, of Groom; daughter, Teri and husband, Dalton Stewart of Mansfield, Texas; and son, Rodney Miller and Debra Duffy, of Ninnekah, Okla.; five grandchildren, Matt Miller of Roswell, N.M., Marc Miller of Justin, Texas, Ryan Stewart of Bushland, Texas, Tosya Stewart of Mansfield and Holly Miller of Mansfield; 10 great-grandchildren, Cheyenne and Riley Miller and Peyton McCarthy, all of Roswell, Addie and Mason Miller of Justin, Landon and Grant Stewart of Bushland, and Koulter, Sutton and Bowen Kidd of Mansfield.

The family suggests memorials may be made to BSA Hospice, White Deer Senior Citizens or Sacred Heart Catholic Church of White Deer.