Patricia D. (Downs) Miller

Patricia D. Miller

September 23, 1937     January 13, 2022

     Patricia D. Miller, 84, Martinsburg, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, January 13, 2022 at her home.

     She was born in Dover, DE, daughter of the late Rev. Robert Gregory and Margaret Mary (Tidd) Downs and was raised in Dover, DE, and Havertown, PA.  On June 13, 1964, she married Edward R. Miller in Havertown.

     Surviving are her beloved husband of 57 years; and three cousins: William Downs and Richard Downs and Susan Gillette.

     She was preceded in death by a cousin, George Downs.

     Patricia was a 1955 graduate of Haverford High School and a 1959 graduate of West Chester University, where she majored in Elementary Education. She taught first to fourth grades at Berwyn and Hillside Elementary (Berwyn) until her marriage to Edward in 1964.  Over the years, Patricia continued to substitute teach at the Berwyn, Buckingham,PA, Flemington, NJ, and Burlington, NC elementary schools.

     She loved the Lord, and she was greatly influenced by her parents. After her father’s conversion in April of 1934, he headed off in 1937 with his $25 car and his expecting wife to a peach farm near Dover, DE, depending on the Lord to provide a job and a place for Patricia and them to live. This was the beginning of a lifetime journey of blessings from the Lord.  In their early years, they were associated with Grace Chapel of Havertown, PA. Her father became the Vice-President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer for the Pitcairn Company while being a lay minister; co-founder of the Chinese Gospel Church of Philadelphia and on the board of the Fellowship Deaconry and Morning Cheer ministries.

     Although teaching reading was her specialty, she also substituted as a music teacher and was a piano accompanist for many school concerts. She was an outstanding pianist and accompanied nationally known soprano soloist, Lorraine Fleming, violinist Bob Marsh, soprano Lucile Countryman and many other singers. She retired to Homewood Retirement Community with her husband in 2001. She attended the Martinsburg Mennonite Church, and was a resident of Homewood Retirement Community, where the Lord used her in various music ministries.

     Friends will be received from 10 until 11am, Thursday, January 20, 2022 at Bice Memorial Chapel at Homewood, where a celebration of life service will follow at 11am in the chapel, Pastor James Neatrour and Pastor Joseph Furry officiating.  All guests are required to wear a mask for the service. Private interment will be held at George Washington Memorial Park, Plymouth Meeting. Arrangements are by John K. Bolger Funeral Home Inc., Martinsburg.

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