Obituary

James taylor miller died on march 4, 2018. He was born in madison, west virginia on october 13, 1932, the son of retta price miller and demmie d. Miller. His grandparents were james and orpha price and floyd and stacy miller.   jim is survived by his wife, virginia davis miller. He also leaves a son, mark and grandchildren michael and catherine.

Jim was educated in boone county schools, graduating from scott high school in 1950. He attended national business college in roanoke, virginia, earning a degree in accounting with highest honors in 1952. He then enrolled at west virginia university. Jim pledged kappa alpha and immediately moved into the ka house. Wishing to become a pilot, he entered the air force rotc. He graduated from wvu with honors in 1956, was named the distinguished military graduate, and received the national defense medal.

Jim entered the us air force flight school in july 1956 and was subsequently named the distinguished flight school graduate. Upon his discharge from the air force, he moved to roanoke, virginia to accept a job in the trust department at first national exchange bank. Jim later served as executive vice president at kanawha banking & trust in charleston, west virginia; beckley national bank in beckley, west virginia; and lowndes bank in clarksburg, west virginia. He often noted none of these banks still exist. Jim then began working as a financial consultant with merrill lynch in clarksburg, retiring after 12 years in 1994.

Jim was an avid golfer, belonging over the years to berry hills country club, glade springs club, clarksburg country club, and pete dye golf club. He also enjoyed boating in his cruiser, the dixie queen, on the kanawha river and at tygart lake in grafton. He maintained his love of flying after his usaf experience and for many years had a partnership in a mooney 21 based at kanawha airport.

He was a long-time volunteer for the american lung association, serving as treasurer and president of the west virginia chapter, and as a member of the national board of directors for twenty three years. Jim was a rotarian in roanoke and also in bridgeport, where he served as president and was named rotarian of the year in 1992.

Jim asked that no memorial service be held. At his request, his ashes will be scattered at an airport, in the water, on a golf course, and at wvu.  he also asked that any memorial gifts be given to the wvu alumni association or the building fund for the ka alpha rho chapter. Donations to the wvu alumni association may be made on line at https://give.Wvu.Edu or mailed to wvu foundation, po box 1650, morgantown, wv 26507-1650. Donations for the ka building fund may be mailed to: the campaign for alpha rho, c/o omegafi, po box 2187, columbus, ga 31902.

You may send condolences to the family at: wwwbarlowbonsall,com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.