Hubert J. Miller

Hubert J. Miller, scholar, traveler, and devoted husband and father passed away March 7, 2016, in Austin, Texas. Hubert was born on December 9, 1927, in Severin, Kansas. The eldest of seven children, Hubert was also the father of seven children who miss him very much.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Barbara Miller, and his beloved wife of 48 years, Doris. Hubert and Doris enjoyed traveling and visited Canada, Mexico, Peru, Belize, Galápagos Islands, Italy, France, South Africa, Russia and more. Their children fondly reminisce about weeks-long, summer driving vacations from South Texas to points east and west. Visiting relatives and national parks with all nine of them piled into the family's station wagon made for great adventures.

Hubert received his Bachelor of Arts at University of Dayton (1951) and his Master of Arts from St. Louis University (1954). Also during this time, he taught social studies at the Academy of the Sacred Heart and St. John's High School, St. Louis, Missouri. From 1955 to 1956 he taught in the Escuela Americana, San Salvador, El Salvador. Along with his teaching duties, he was appointed to serve as the director of the Instituto de Inglés. He began graduate studies at Loyola in 1956. He also attended the University of San Carlos, Guatemala with a Smith-Mundt student-exchange grant. Trilingual, Hubert grew up speaking German with his immigrant grandparents and became fluent in Spanish during his time in Guatemala.

Hubert and Doris started their family while living in Chicago where Hubert was completing his doctorate in history from Loyola University. The family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1960. From 1960 to 1970, he was an assistant professor of history and then Chair of the History Department at St. Mary's University.

In 1971, the Miller family, now numbering seven children, relocated to Edinburg, Texas, where Hubert taught at the University of Texas - Pan American (UTPA), now known as University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (UT-RGV), until he retired in 1996 with the title Professor Emeritus.

As an educator, Hubert was especially proud that all of his children received college degrees and several earned advanced degrees.

He is survived by his six sons: John Miller and wife Martha of San Antonio; Michael Miller of Columbia, South Carolina; Paul Miller of Boston, Massachusetts; David and Christopher Miller of Austin; Vincent Miller of Buffalo, New York; and daughter Marie Archer and husband Jack of Austin. He also is survived by grandchildren Mitch and Sydney Archer of Austin and Nate Miller of San Antonio. Also surviving him are sisters Edna Vonfeldt, Lydia Pfannenstiel, Frieda Greenwood, Tillie Anne Preston and husband Clyde, brothers Robert Miller and wife June, Elmer Miller and wife Darlene, all of Colorado. Also preceding him in death were bothers-in-law Frank Vonfeldt, Gilbert Pfannenstiel, and Lloyd Greenwood.

Hubert's family wishes to acknowledge Westminster Manor's nurses and staff, Austin Heart Hospital, Dr. Bhatt and Nurse Emlyn for their care and compassion during his illness. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10 at Weed-Corley-Fish on North Lamar. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church with interment to follow at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary Mission, c/o Father Dale Jamison, OFM, P.O. Box 39, Tohatchi, NM 87325.