Robert (Bob) Miller, 78, passed away March 19 at the Blue Ridge Hospice Patient Care Center, Winchester, Virginia.
Bob was born in Philadelphia in 1937 and graduated from Penn State University. His degree in Aeronautical Engineering led him to a career with Hercules, Inc. working on the program for solid propellant rocket motors for the Minuteman, Polaris and Poseidon ICBM systems. He transitioned to the plastics division at Hercules and later DRG Plastics, Inc. where he led development of one of the first microwaveable plastic food containers.
Bob and his family lived in NJ, UT and CA before settling in Newark, DE in 1970. During the 70’s, Bob was chairman of the Citizens Advisory Council working with school administration, served on the Board of the Center for Creative Arts and was a sponsor for Junior Achievement.
In November 1993, Bob became a kidney donor for his daughter, Joan. In 1994 and 2010 both of them participated in the National Transplant Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA and Madison, WI.
Bob joined Business Development Associates in 1994 when he and his wife moved to Winchester. While in Winchester, Bob became a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and served as Chairman of the Restore Committee establishing the Winchester Restore that opened in 2006. He traveled to Mobile, AL with Habitat Int’l in 2006, 2007 and 2008 after Hurricane Katrina. In 2008 he met the former President during the annual Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Work Project. That year he also received the Linda B. Caley award from the Winchester/Frederick County Habitat chapter.
In addition to his parents, Charles and Ruth, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Harold in March 2015.
Bob is survived by his wife, Connie, daughters Chris Miller (Richmond, VA) and Joan Miller (Newark, DE); brother Alfred and wife, Joan of Chestertown, MD, sisters Frances and husband Craig Peterson of Holland, PA and Edie Lipinski and husband Ray Considine of Concord, MA; sister-in-law Ethel Miller of Wake Forest, NC; 12 nieces and nephews and many grand-nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank all the compassionate therapists who have worked with him over the years and the staff at Blue Ridge Hospice and Spring Arbor Assisted Living Community for their care and support. They would also like to thank the MD/VA/DC chapter of the ALS Association for their knowledge and guidance.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held Saturday, April 2nd, 11:00am at Omps Funeral Home, 1600 Amherst St., Winchester, with Reverend Ken Patrick officiating.
In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Bob, those who wish may make contributions to: Habitat for Humanity of Winchester-Frederick County, www.habitatwfc.org, P.O. box 1653, Winchester, VA 22604; Gift of Life Donor Program, www.donors1.org, 401 North 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123-4104; ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter, www.webdc.alsa.org, 7507 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, Blue Ridge Hospice, www.brhospice.org, 333 W. Cork St., Winchester, VA 22601; Sprite’s HERO, Inc. Paws to R.E.A.D.® program, www.spriteshero.org, 3916 Fauquier Ave., Richmond, VA 23227; or the charity of one’s choice.