Juanita was born January 13, 1928, the second child of Ernest and Hattie Miller, at home on Ingrams Creek in Letcher County KY.
She was determined to receive her high school diploma, so she trudged through the muddy roads of Eastern KY several miles to Kingdom Come High School along with her cousins, some days they rode horseback. She graduated in 1949 and immediately moved to Whitesburg, KY to work in a small restaurant for a few pennies a day while living in a one room apartment. She met her future husband, Joseph W. Elkins, in Whitesburg and they were married November 22, 1950; he preceded her in death December 22, 1995.
They moved to Seymour IN and lived in what was army barracks in Freeman Field in 1950. Their son Jerry Michael was born there, then they moved to Columbus, IN closer to work. She worked at Arvin Industries for a short time. She retired as a butcher from Mike’s IGA in Walesboro, IN after many years.
Juanita was always looking out for her family. She gave her father and brothers a place to stay when they came to Columbus to find work as well as many cousins came to stay with them for a time.
She and her husband loved to travel, they made many trips to the mountains and Gatlinburg, TN. They took one long trip out through the Western US. She so enjoyed that trip and she loved to tell about the sights she saw. She enjoyed painting country scenes and numerous crafts.
Juanita is survived by her sons, Jerry (Debbie) Elkins and Jeffrey (Angela) Elkins both of Columbus; brothers, Lawrence Miller of Columbus and Wallace (Brenda) Miller of Elizabethtown, IN; sister, Earnestine (Ron) Havron of Columbus; grandchildren, Justin (Leanne) Elkins, Ashley Lopez, Jordan (Heather) Elkins and Ondrea’ (Craig) Ulerich all of Columbus; great grandchildren, Javy Lopez, Aiden Elkins, Alex Lopez, Jasper Elkins, Jarvis Elkins and Isiah Ulerich. She also leaves many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends who will mourn her passing; a special niece Joyce Ann Fields of North Carolina whom she spent many hours talking to on the phone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Maleda Gibson; brothers, Victor, Otis and infant brother Eddie Miller; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Miller; brother-in-law, Lloyd Gibson.
A private visitation for the family will be held at Myers~Reed Chapel on 25th Street followed by a private graveside at Garland Brook Cemetery with Rev. Jerry K. Day Sr. officiating. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The American Heart Association or The American Diabetes Association.
