Josephine Miller

Josephine Ellenberg Miller was born January 8, 1920 in Centerville, New Jersey to the late Henry and Kate Ellenberg. Henry and Kate had both immigrated to the United States from Vienna, Austria and were both farmers in Centerville and New Monmouth, New Jersey. Josephine or “Jo” was the middle of five daughters. Henry served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War as a teamster in Luzon, Philippines. Jo married Evart Silcox Miller in Keyport, New Jersey in September 1941. They had two children; Bonnie Lee in 1942 and Ronald in 1945. Jo moved to Pinellas County in 1987 following the death of her husband Evart. Jo loved almost any kind of adventure and was a great sport, never turning down a ride in an airplane, helicopter, or speedboat. During her lifetime she rode horseback in Colorado, canoed the Illinois River, flew in an open cockpit biplane, and loved swimming in the ocean. She loved roller coasters and bested the wild rides of all the wooden roller coasters in Coney Island, New York and any other coaster she had the opportunity to mount. As a senior citizen she went parasailing in Clearwater with her nephew and daughter. She was certainly an outstanding example of what has come to be known as “The Greatest Generation”. Jo’s greatest love was being on the dance floor. Jo and Evart enjoyed ballroom dancing almost weekly. Jo and her special friend Joe, also from Clearwater, frequently enjoyed ballroom dancing. Jo also enjoyed line dancing and even took tap dancing lessons at the clubhouse where she was a member for 20 plus years. During her declining years, well into her nineties, she never lost her passion for being on the go. She was cared for by her daughter, Bonnie, during her battle with Alzheimer’s. Even before her passing, she never declined a ride along to the shore to witness the kinds of activities she loved so much in her youth. She always enjoyed the ice cream that was usually a part of her drives to the shore. Jo passed away on June 2, 2015 and fought until the very end with the kind of courage with which she lived her long life. To anyone who knew this woman during her lifetime they all know that on June 2nd we lost a kind a generous member of “The Greatest Generation”. Joe was preceded in death by her husband, Evart; parents, Henry and Kate; four sisters; Ann, Sue, Rose, and Ruth. She was also preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Peg; and her longtime special friend, Joe. Jo is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Miller of Clearwater, Florida; and her son, Dr. Ronald Miller of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and many nieces and nephews. According to her wishes, Jo will be inurned by the Fountain of Memories in Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park. No services are scheduled.