ROBERT ARNOLD MILLER

Robert Arnold Miller was born July 27, 1935, to Claude and Jean B. Miller in Goldendale, Washington. He passed away on August 28, 2024, in Pullman, Washington.

Bob was the oldest child in his family. He grew up with his brother and parents in Goldendale Washington, graduating from high school there in 1953. He entered the US Navy and spent time playing trombone in the Navy Band before working on a tanker ship, the USS Elokomin, in the Mediterranean Sea. He enjoyed telling stories about his time in the Navy, especially from his time on the ship. Toward the end of his Navy career, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, where he met Grace Penland. They married in Candler, North Carolina, on August 30, 1958, following a long-distance relationship with him in Washington and her in North Carolina. They were married 63 years before Grace passed away in 2021.

Bob and Grace have three children, Katha Jean, Karla Jo, and Kent Jeffrey. They have seven grandchildren: Jeremy, Alexandra, Jonathan, Joel, David, Kiah, and Jesse.

After their wedding, they moved to Goldendale, Washington, where Bob worked at the Goldendale Grain Growers.

After graduating from Washington State University in 1961 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Bob and Grace moved back to Goldendale where Bob worked at the Goldendale Grain Growers.

In 1965, Bob and Grace moved to Oakesdale, then Belmont, Washington, where Bob worked at the Auvil-Warner Company grain elevator. He worked his way up to owning the company. He enjoyed interacting with the people, the farmers and their families very much. Bob attended the Oakesdale Baptist Church for many years, often helping with building projects and cooking for the annual Easter breakfast.

Bob also maintained a small farm of his own, raising sheep, chickens, and occasionally pigs, one steer, a pair of Shetland ponies, rabbits, and ducks. He usually had a dog and multiple cats. Bob loved animals and they in turn loved him. He particularly enjoyed raising chickens and selling their eggs.

He enjoyed taking drives, visiting others and entertaining people in his home, his kids and grandkids, gardening, genealogy, and woodworking. He was an accomplished woodworker, often entering and winning competitions in the Palouse Empire Fair. He made wooden toys as well as wall hangings, intricate music boxes, displays, and pens. He loved to give away his woodworking projects. He enjoyed country music and westerns on television.

Bob was fiercely protective of family, both near and far. When Grace developed dementia, Bob insisted on keeping her at home and he took care of her there for several years. His mother lived with them in her declining years. He regularly called extended family to keep up with them.

Bob modeled kindness, consideration, and hard work. He was a marvelous story-teller and often told jokes, He would take on projects and spend time figuring out how best to accomplish the task, whether it involved repairing vehicles, building fences, or making jams. He could make most anything grow in a garden, and he remembered names and faces. He had a rare ability to make the best of any situation, which was played out in the last months of his life as he battled COVID, then a stroke.

Bob was very friendly and loved talking with people about books, politics, weather, farms, current events, or other topics. He loved learning and delighted in sharing his own knowledge and skills. He always had a smile for you. He had integrity and worked hard at everything he took on. He was a remarkable man and will be greatly missed.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Grace, his parents, and his sister. He is survived by his children Katha (Douglas) of Bremerton, WA, Karla (Dirk) of Renton, WA, Kent (Diane) of Colfax, WA; grandchildren Jeremy (Izzy) of Portland, OR, Alexandra of Bremerton, WA, Jonathan (Sydney) of Cleveland, OH, Joel (Noelle) of Boston, MA, David of Bremerton, WA, Kiah of Atlanta, GA, and Jesse of Portland, OR; his brother Donald, of Sumner, WA, brother-in-law Doug, of Candler, NC, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial donations should be made to

Oakesdale First Baptist Church, 209 W Bartlett St, Oakesdale, WA 99158, International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), or the charity of your choice.

Burial will be at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Tom Dahl officiating.

Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, WA is caring for the family. On line condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com

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