Dorothy C Miller

Dorothy Cecile (Ambrose) Miller, 88, passed away on Wednesday, 7 November 2012 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Bonnie Miller, in rural Olympia, Washington. She had been under doctors’ care for the past several years and had lived with Ken and Bonnie since 2009.

Dorothy was born to Harold Dean and Vida Venetta (Anderson) Haywood on 16 May 1924 in Elma, Washington. She had one sister, Pauline, and their early years were lived in Satsop, Washington. In 1937, she moved with her family to Oakville, Washington, where she spent most of the rest of her life.

She graduated from Oakville High School and was married to her high school sweetheart, William Dilge Miller, in 1942. They were the parents of four sons: Kenneth, William, Larry and Tobin. Both parents were active in the local community and school and most sporting events would find Dorothy and Dilge in the bleachers cheering for their boys’ teams. Dorothy supported her husband in his lengthy service in the Oakville Volunteer Fire Department and Little League and as a state highway employee.

During the war years, Dorothy worked on building airplanes for the war effort and Dilge served in the U.S. Navy. When the boys were in school, Dorothy worked at a variety of jobs including at the local grocery store where she did a little bit of everything, as a clerk at the liquor store, and as a clerk-typist at the Capitol building in Olympia. She also worked as assistant cook at the school where she enjoyed socializing as she kept an eye on her kids. She passed on to her children a strong work ethic.

Dorothy made life-long friends and was in contact with those still living at the time of her death. She was especially fond of her pinochle club who met each Wednesday to play cards and catch up on the local news. That group included Signe Pearson, Mae Palmer, Babe Hawkins (deceased), Donna Bennett, and Marilyn Ames, all of Oakville. Camping, hiking, swimming, bowling, digging for clams and other beach activities were among her most pleasurable times, especially when it involved her boys and their families.

Dorothy is survived by her sons: Kenneth and Bonnie (Austin) Miller and William and Judy (Malernee) Miller all of Olympia, Washington; Larry and Marjorie (Neace) Miller of Chandler, Arizona; and Tobin and Lorella (Duval) Miller of Graham, Washington; also by eleven grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren who reside in Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Utah and Washington. Dorothy loved and was proud of her posterity and they are proud of her. She is also survived by her only niece, Venetta Oliver, of Aberdeen.

Dorothy’s husband, father, mother, sister and a nephew all preceded her in death.

A graveside service will be held at the Oakville Pioneer Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Following the interment, a celebration of her life will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Oakville Methodist Church for those who wish to attend.

Mills & Mills of Tumwater are in charge of the arrangements. A public viewing will be held at the Mills & Mills Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 16, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oakville Fire Department, PO Box 6, Oakville, WA 98568. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the West Thurston and Tumwater Fire Department personnel who responded so quickly to our call and to the physicians, nurses and staffs of the various medical offices who have served Dorothy so well for the past several years.

Descendants of Dorothy C. Miller

Dorothy Cecile AMBROSE

Sp. William Dilge MILLER

Kenneth Dilge MILLER

Sp. Bonnie Marie AUSTIN

Janet Marie MILLER

Sp. Steven Morris ALLEN

David Robert ALLEN

Scott Austin ALLEN

Susan Ann MILLER

Sp. Jonathan Andreas ESPENSCHIED

Tobias Kelvin ESPENSCHIED

Samson Konrad ESPENSCHIED

Matthew Dilge MILLER

Sp. Ami Louise FAIRBURN

Michael Dilge MILLER

Erick Ryan MILLER

Leslie Cheyanne MILLER

William LeRoy MILLER

Sp. Judy Layne MALERNEE

William Bruce MILLER

Sp. Mary GUNTHER

Derek Gunther MILLER

Joshua William MILLER

Caleb Bruce MILLER

Luke Paul MILLER

Grace Elisabeth MILLER

Richard Alan MILLER

Sp. Kathryn Elva FERREL

Amanda Dorothy MILLER

Emily Layne MILLER

Rachel Kathryn MILLER

Kate Arizona MILLER

Katy LaRayne MILLER

Sp. William Francis WADE, Jr.

William Joseph WADE

James Kensington WADE

Jacob Ross MILLER

Sp. Gina WILDE

Jason Wilde MILLER

Jeremy Michael MILLER

Jessica MILLER

Justin Malernee MILLER

Larry Ray MILLER

Sp. Marjorie Ann NEACE

Joal Ryan MILLER

Sp. Jennifer Robin LANE

Luke Ryan MILLER

Lexi Jane MILLER

Julie Rae MILLER

Sp. Ryan Evan BURDICK

Rylie Rae BURDICK

Siena Lynn BURDICK

Sydnie Anne BURDICK

Tobin Dean MILLER

Sp. Lorella Kay DUVAL

Shaun Dean MILLER

S.O. Rachel Jo Quintella

Nicholas Dean MILLER

Sp. Melissa Diane MACK

Mackenzie Kay MILLER

Bailey Garth MILLER

Travis William MILLER

Sp. Hilary Ann McFADDEN

Rebecca Nicole MILLER

Elizabeth Ashley MILLER

Wyatt Isaiah MILLER