Bobby C. Miller

and colleagues. He was Pop Pop to his grandchildren.

Born on March 22, 1935, Bob grew up in Nashville, TN. The first of two sons born to Cecil and Ena Miller, Bob started young working odd jobs to make his spending money. Bob's father managed a restaurant in downtown Nashville near the Grand Ole Opry, and from 13 years old, Bob worked the grill on Saturdays

and during the summer. Bob often recalled meeting Ernest Tubb, who came in for coffee every day, and Ray Price, who liked to play the pinball machine. Late one Saturday night, when an unknown young, skinny singer came by the restaurant in his big Cadillac convertible to pick up one of the waitresses for a date, Bob recognized him as the soon-to-be-famous Hank Williams.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1957, Bob accepted a job with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft as a mechanical engineer. He was one of the original engineers to work at the aerospace company’s new 7,000 acre site in west Jupiter, FL. During his 36-year career, Bob worked on many historic aircraft projects, including the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, the main engine for the Space Shuttle, and the control systems for both the Air Force F15 and F16 jet engines. Bob retired from Pratt & Whitney as a department head and senior executive in 1995.

He and his loving wife, Victoria, married in 1961. During a two year stint when the couple lived in California, Bob worked with Aerojet General on a classified program developing the SR-71 engine in the remote desert of Area 51. Bob and Victoria then returned to Jupiter, FL where they raised their three children and enjoyed fun-filled days with their five grandchildren.

Bob and Victoria joined the First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta in 1965. They were both very active as deacons, session members, and youth group leaders. For years, Bob led the church’s annual 7-mile canoe trip down Florida’s National Wild & Scenic Loxahatchee River and worked the kitchen during the church’s annual Strawberry Festival and Pancake Breakfasts.

In addition to his work on aircraft engines and control systems, Bob had a variety of interests, such as writing and publishing short stories, developing multiple patents for mechanical design and applications, riding his Harley and Norton motorcycles, creating board games, attending antique car shows, collecting antique tools, camping by the track for the 12-hour Sebring endurance car race, and cooking his delicious homemade bread, key lime pies, and BBQ sauce, along with growing heirloom tomatoes. Bob organized a regular poker game and named it “The Friday Night Cultural Betterment Society”. He and his buddies played monthly for over 25 years.

Bob believed strongly in the value of hard work and shared this with his children through their numerous home improvement projects during their childhoods. Bob always said that knowing how to take care of yourself and having confidence in your abilities is what it takes to succeed. Bob also took his family on extensive summer vacations, visiting all the must-see sights throughout the continental United States and Canada.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Miller, his mother, Ena Renegar Miller, his brother, William ‘Bill’ Miller, and his nephew, Christopher Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Victoria Roy Longyear Miller, his children and their spouses, Andrea Miller Von Aldenbruck & Anthony Von Aldenbruck, Nicole Miller Penland & Tideman Penland, Jeff Miller & Stacy Miller, and his grandchildren, Lauren & Alec Von Aldenbruck, Anna & Madeline Miller, and Eliana Penland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Bob’s name to the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, Attn: Finance Department, 500 Captain Armour’s Way, Jupiter, FL 33469, include Bob C. Miller on the memo line. Donations can also be made online at www.jupiterlighthouse.org

A memorial service will be held for family and friends to celebrate and honor Bob’s life in Spring 2022. Services arranged by Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home in Jupiter, FL.

www.dignitymemorial.com