John Jacob Miles

John J. Miles, 97, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 17, 2025. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Josephine Emilio Miles, his daughter, Dr. Ruth C. Miles Stone and son-in-law, Arthur Stone, his parents, Alexander C. and Ruth E. Whitney Miles, brother, Richard A. Miles, twin sisters, Jane Bennett and Janet Marshall, and his beloved in-laws who were like parents and sisters and brothers to him.

He is survived by his daughters, Lynette (Craig) Ledder, Drs. Mary Jo (Don) Calebaugh, and Valerie (Ted) Hoffman, his granddaughters Joanna (Steve) Cline, Stephanie Hoffman, Sara Stone, Lindsay (Ryan) Hamilton and Lauren (Drew) Casale, his sister-in-law, Rita R. Emilio, and many well-loved nieces and nephews.

He was a graduate of East Liverpool High School, Ohio and briefly attended Geneva College before being drafted into the Army nearing the end of WWII. There he was near-fatally and notoriously wounded by a rattlesnake bite (prior to the availability of anti-venom) before serving as an Army Medic. After military service, he graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College (now University) in Rochester, NY later receiving his graduate degree from SUNY Brockport.

John, known in his childhood as “Johnny Baby”, grew up in a loving, hardworking family among the steel mills and potteries of his hometown. His childhood was characterized by fun and innocent mischief as a member of a group of youths known, and still remembered as, the “Car Barn Heathens”. His storied childhood (and beyond) entertained family and friends throughout his life. It was at Roberts Wesleyan where he met his beautiful Josephine whom he married, embracing her loving Italian family as his own. They raised their four daughters in Binghamton, NY while John began his career in the Binghamton City School District, first as a teacher, then a principal, an administrator, and eventually Associate Superintendent. Upon retirement John served as interim superintendent for various area school districts.

His desire was always to help children receive the best possible education and to have the best learning opportunities. He was instrumental in implementing in the Binghamton District the Head Start Program at its inception that was designed to meet the educational needs of pre-school, low-income students. During this time he kept his hand in teaching at Broome Community College (now SUNY Broome) and as an adult Sunday School teacher at the Binghamton Free Methodist Church (Hands of Hope) where he was a life-time member.

An avid reader, a student of history, and a believer in Christ Jesus, he was a bright star and great example to his family and those who knew and loved him. He will be greatly missed and his family looks forward to the day of our reunion with him and all who have gone before him in the House where Our Redeemer dwells.

The family will receive friends at the Wm. R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 737 Chenango Street, Port Dickinson, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 11am – 12pm with the Funeral Service to follow at 12pm. The Interment will be at the Vestal Hills Memorial Park. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WmRChase.com for the Miles family.