Stephen Kurt Miller

Stephen Kurt Miller, 87, of Tampa, Florida, passed away on February 26, 2026, in Tampa after a brief hospital stay. Steve, a loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather, had a strong faith in God and His promise through our Savior Jesus Christ that his eternal life would continue pain free in their presence.

Steve was born February 22, 1939, in Pittsburgh, PA to Miriam and Rev. Moore Rudolph Miller. He spent his school-age years primarily in East Liverpool, OH, and learned to play the flute in sixth grade, developing a life-long passion for music. He played in his high school band and the East Liverpool Civic Orchestra. He later sang in various church choirs, the latest being at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church in Tampa, where he was very active in parish affairs and ministries. He met his future wife, Ruth Ann Wellington, in the fourth grade and dated her throughout high school. They were married in June 1962 in East Liverpool and remained married for 49 years until her passing in March 2012.

Steve attended Yale University on a Navy ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1961. Over a distinguished 22-year naval career he called on nearly 100 ports around the world; had duty assignments at the Pentagon, Virginia Beach, San Diego and Pearl Harbor among other locations, and held several Naval / Department of Defense intelligence positions. He rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, served in the Vietnam War, and was decorated with several awards, including the Defense and Navy Meritorious Service Medals.

Life in the Navy brought professional fulfillment but was challenging when it came to maintaining family stability. By 1965, Steve and Ruth Ann were raising two boys, Mark and Peter, yet Steve’s deployments—sometimes lasting up to a year, like during Vietnam—often took him far from home and his loved ones. And every few years, the family packed up and moved to a new duty station. Steve made sure to support his family through these changes, always helping them settle into new places and routines. Even when he was far away, the family stayed close thanks to the stories and messages he’d record on his reel-to-reel tape recorder. The arrival of one of his tapes was always a bright spot. Everyone would gather at the dining room table to listen to his voice, hear about his experiences, and receive his loving encouragement.

His second to last duty assignment in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was particularly memorable for Steve and the family. He immersed himself in his boys’ school and sports activities and the unique cultural melting pot that is Hawaii. He enjoyed tailgate parties prior to University of Hawaii football games and had season tickets with the family to Hawaii Islander AAA baseball games. Friendships with locals exposed him to new culinary experiences and he became a grill master to the delight of family and friends who would gather for regular cookouts.

Upon his retirement from the Navy, Steve went to work for the University of Tampa in the admissions office in 1984, and helped to recruit students from Florida, nationally and around the world.

In retirement Steve traveled with Ruth Ann, taking many cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and Central and South America. They were frequent attendees of Tampa’s cultural events, including the symphony and plays. They lived in University Village, a Tampa retirement community that was later acquired by Unisen Senior Living. Steve was very involved in resident activities and helped represent residents during the facility’s bankruptcy proceedings.

A life-long sports fan, Steve took great joy in watching his two sons, Mark and Peter, play baseball, football and other sports as they grew up. He was also an avid fan of the Buccaneers, Lightning, Rays, and University of Florida teams.

In 2017, five years after the passing of his beloved Ruth Ann, Steve found love again and married Rosalind Flowers, who remained lovingly by his side until his passing. They resided at Discovery Village at Tampa Palms.

Steve was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Rev. Michael Miller and his wife Ruth Ann; and is survived by Rosalind; his son Mark and his wife, Lisa, of Jacksonville Beach; and son Peter and his wife Valorie, of Tampa. Their marriages blessed Steve with four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Whenever they visited, his eyes would brighten with joy, and tear up when they had to leave.

Steve’s remains will be interred next to Ruth Ann in a vault at Lake Magdalene Church, formerly Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at the church, which is located at 2902 West Fletcher Avenue; Tampa, FL, 33618.