George C. Miller

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of George Carr Miller, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, “Gampa”. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of 64 years, his sons Paul Christopher Grant Miller, Dean Lawrence Miller, and five grandchildren.

He was born in Merritt, B.C., the only son of George Miller Sr. and Hilda Miller. George Sr., after working as a welder in the shipyards of Victoria during World War II, with his Scottish enterprising spirit, settled his family first in Yale, B.C. where he established an auto repair shop and a power plant. Theirs was a tale of pioneers. His mother, Hilda, resumed her teaching career at that time and George attended a “little red schoolhouse”, with Grades 1 to 6 in one room. Eventually, the family moved to Hope, B.C. where the family owned and operated a hardware store and lumber yard. George attended Hope High, graduated in 1958, and was accepted for enrollment at UBC. In May 1962, he graduated with a BA, enrolled in the UBC Teacher Training Program and married Pat in 1963, who was then completing her 5-year education degree. It was a time of bliss and poverty.

And so began his extensive career in education, “I’m working for kids” he would state. He was hired by the Burnaby School Board in 1964 as a Business Ed, English and History teacher at Moscrop, became a counsellor, achieved a Masters in Education, was Chairman of the BTA, and negotiated the first Learning and Working Conditions Agreement in B.C. in 1969. During that time, Pat left teaching to become a mother to two sons, Paul Christopher Grant Miller and Dean Lawrence Miller. In 1974, George was appointed as Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He then began a doctoral program in Santa Barbara UCSB in 1980. His family gladly accompanied him, living for a year under California sunny skies with bikes, boogie boards and tennis racquets and, yes, new schools.

After returning home, George was appointed by the District as Deputy Superintendent and acted in that position until being appointed Superintendent of Schools in Burnaby in 1996. George decided on an early retirement after this challenging and rewarding career. He left in 1999 at the age of 58 to follow a dream. He and Pat bought Starwatch, a Tolly 30 and spent a number of months boating up and down the West Coast waterways. He then spent time with family on Mayne Island, watching sunsets on the point at Windrift Cottage, hiking with friends on the trails around Mt. Baker, cycling into the interior of B.C., playing a little golf, reading books and finding contentment sitting in his garden with Pat at their home in Cobble Hill.

He will be remembered by his family, friends and colleagues for his empathy, his calm in the face of problems, his ability to listen, his intellect, his wit in repartee and his unconditional love for us, his family.

We are beyond grateful for the care and comfort George received from the doctors, nurses and aides at the Cowichan District Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Arbutus Room on Sunday, April 26, 2026 from 1 to 4 at Arbutus Ridge Community Centre.