Miriam Ruth McKinley

Miriam was born August 26, 1923 in Mansfield, Ohio, to W. Howard and Ruth Maxwell Miller, where she attended elementary and high school. She worked her way through college, graduating from Bowling Green University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1946. Her post-graduate studies there focused on Industrial Food Service.

After college Miriam managed the cafeteria for Owens Illinois Glass Factory in Clarion Pennsylvania, where she met and married Jim. The couple moved to Tyrone Pennsylvania where they both taught in the secondary school system, and son Jim and daughter Kathy were born.Jim was called back to the Army during the Korean War, and they went to live for a year each in Lindenau Germany and in the Loire River valley in France. After the war, they both worked at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where Miriam taught Home Economics and started IUP’s Industrial Food Service program. Son Bob and daughter Mary were born in Indiana. In addition to teaching, Miriam was active as a sorority advisor for Alpha Xi Delta, and as the kitchen queen of church suppers at the First United Methodist Church.

When Jim accepted the position of Provost at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Miriam consulted with the Pennsylvania State Department of Education in nutrition and kitchen design, consulted with the Tappan Corporation, and substitute taught high school physics, chemistry, and English. Miriam was active in Alpha Xi Delta, in the First United Methodist Church, and in the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO), where she served as President multiple times. Education was near and dear to her heart, and she believed in assisting all who wish to educate themselves.

In retirement, Miriam and Jim moved to Pompano Beach, Florida. Miriam continued to be active in PEO in Pompano Beach. After Jim’s death, Miriam visited her children in Texas, helping out with grandchildren.

Miriam and her sweetheart Ted met in Pompano Beach where they were neighbors. They have been happy partners in travel and in life for 28 years.

Miriam has always been a traveler, visiting these places in her journeys: a good bit of the continental US; Hawaii and Alaska; Europe multiple times over the years; Hong Kong, China and Tibet with Mary; Mexico to see Bob; Colombia to see Kathy; and Australia with Jim to see friends who had come to live with them in Edinboro in the 70s.

Miriam is preceded in death by her father, mother, sisters Margaret Lloyd and Elizabeth Bordine, brothers Doug Miller, Max Miller and David Miller, husband James McKinley, and son Martin Neal McKinley. She is survived by her partner Ted Burke, children James McKinley of Irving, Texas, Kathleen Davies (Tom) of Farmers Branch, Texas, Robert McKinley (Esther) of San Antonio, Texas, and Mary McKinley Duval (Dave) of Grapevine, Texas, as well as her grandchildren Mark McKinley, Erin McKinley, Ernest McKinley, Adriana McKinley, Juliette Ng, Ryan Ng, Evan Davies, Rachel Davies, and her great-grandchildren Elijah Austin, Kara Ivey, Karly Harris, William Brent, and Ryann Ng.

Miriam loved life, friends, and family. She was loved by many.

A memorial service will be planned for the spring of 2021 in Edinboro Pennsylvania, with interment in Clarion, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the James and Miriam McKinley Memorial Scholarship at Edinboro University (http://www.edinboro.edu/directory/offices-services/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/edinboro-university-scholarships.html)