Luther Edward Miller's Obituary
Luther Edward (Ed or Eddie to his friends and family) Miller, 79 years of age, passed on the morning of Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Ed Miller was born January 12, 1943 in Muncie, IN to the late Luther Dale and HannahBelle Miller, youngest of two children (surviving sister, Nannette Flowers).
Ed Miller was so many things to so many people. He was active and involved in many endeavors throughout his life. He was the quintessential American idea of each decade he lived in. His younger years of the post war 40’s and 50’s were filled with boy scouts, family camping and fishing, yearbook club, tennis, wrestling, school musicals and plays, honors society, President of the Math club, sock hops, making parade floats and even served as an official page for the 90th Indiana House of Representatives. And yet also was nicknamed “Fast Eddie” because he was also your regular Dennis the Menace complete with a sling shot and playing pranks on the neighborhood kids. All in good humor of course.
In the 60s, he was the first to graduate in his family from college (Ball State University), joined Kappa Sigma Kappa, was a pool shark on and off campus, went to nationals playing billiards for Ball State, went out to clubs to see his favorites Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and more. Living student campus life during the protests of Vietnam and civil rights, listening to music and poetry like his favorite poem “I am Waiting” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. After graduating, Ed moved to the big city of Chicago and became a teacher as the “Bye Bye American Pie” was topping the charts, leaving the small town of Muncie behind. The end of an era for the country and for Eddie.
Ed slid right into the disco energy of the 70s. Many know him as a teacher from this time at T. F. South Lansing high school in Illinois. Chemistry teacher and multiple sports coach by day, young man with a white suit and dancing shoes by night. He loved experiencing Rush ST. hang outs like Mister Kelly’s and Domino lounge. Other city hangouts he loved were Second City Improv with a nickel for coffee in the days of John Belushi and Bill Murray. And of course, Gino’s East Pizza, which was second only to Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders on N. Clark as his best windy city pizza pie.
Even though he loved all the excitement Chicago life, he valued being a teacher and a coach more. He knew a way to a fulfilled life was in the youth he spent time with at T. F. South. He found his true calling of helping young people believe they could do anything. He felt so much pride when a team he coached won, when one of his science students earned an award at Science Fair, or when a student overcame the odds and attended an ivy league school or patented a life-changing invention. As if all of that wasn’t enough, he found a way to fall in love and got married to Marcy (Schultz) Miller, his wife of 30 years. At the end of the 1970s, this love made him decide to be the ultimate coach, teacher and person who shapes young ones’ lives; he became a father.
Right out of the gate in January of 1980 he became the entrepreneur family man, again fitting right into the spirit of the decade. He traded his disco white suit and leather fur coat for a mustache and polyester business pants. He and Marcy Miller had two children: son, Luther Eugene (who goes by Gene) and daughter, Laura Elaine. He loved becoming a businessman who traveled all over the country. He was even top salesman in the country for Shasta RV. Even though it was later in life to start a family for him, he had all the energy and excitement of any new husband and father. His goals everyday were to make someone smile, to help someone out, to teach and learn something new and to make someone’s day brighter than when came through the door. He was always there to help the underdog, to be a listening ear, and to offer life advice even if he was selling you an RV. He loved offering new experiences and perspectives on anything and everything to anyone and everyone. He was the Dad who would not stop talking to the local bagger at the grocery store, determined to make their day a little better. He believed every small kindness, respect or moments of recognition having life changing potential for everyone.
After his kids were grown and he and Marcy parted ways, he moved to Florida for another new adventure and another chapter. A few years later, while continuing his career in RV sales, he married one of those customers that he was determined to make smile. When he made Rita Miller smile, he knew he wanted to see that smile again and again for the rest of his life. So again, the turn of the millennium gave him the perfect role to fill of a happily retired Florida resident who was proudly involved in the local Sheriff Department community watch, his church, campground management in Connecticut in the summers, and being involved in the management and board of Deer Creek community where he lived. And of course, being a proud grandfather who happened to be near the magical world of Disney. He enjoyed his later years living close to the “most magical place on earth” and “world of imagination,” which was perfect for a man who truly believed anything was possible.
He loved and loyally cared for his wife Rita who, after many years of illness, succumbed to in it late 2021. Also preceding him in death was his daughter Laura’s husband, Joseph (Kornacki) Miller, who unexpectedly passed away in April 2021. Because of their close personal connection, his late son-in-law had taken Ed’s surname as his own. In October of 2022, Ed moved to Ohio to be closer to his children and grandchildren. The family relished the opportunity to enjoy meals together, play billiards, and spend quality time with Ed frequently.
Ed always said he didn’t know what he was going to do in heaven, because he would not have anyone to help or any problems to solve. This purpose gifted him with an incredibly full life and has instilled so much in so many peoples’ hearts. He will gladly take on watching over and guiding all of us to fulfill our dreams from heaven. He is survived by his son Gene and daughter-in-law Amanda, daughter Laura, grandchildren William and Caralynn, his late wife Rita Catanzaro Miller’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass to honor Ed will be held at 11:00 am Monday, February 20, 2023 at his and Rita’s home parish: St. Ann Catholic Church in Haines City, Florida. Ed did not care for cut flowers; so with respect to this sentiment, the family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parks ( https://www.nationalparks.org/ ), in Ed’s memory. Ed would appreciate the support of camping and traveling, as he, his parents, and grandparents were all adventurers and frontiersmen. He encouraged everyone to camp and explore this amazing country, which he cherished.
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