Frank Earl Miller Sr.

Frank Earl Miller, Sr was born October 12th, 1933 to Frank A and Alverta M Miller. Frank grew up on the old westside of Indianapolis and attended Arsenal Tech High School and played baseball as a pitcher on a semi-pro team. He was a US Army veteran having served overseas in Japan where he helped bring telephone service to the rural areas of postwar Japan. While in the service he learned to speak Japanese and was always happy to teach others a few key phrases.

On a blind date in 1958 he met Carolyn Everett -- the love of his life. After a whirlwind courtship the couple married about two months after that first date. They were blessed to celebrate their 60th anniversary just before Carolyn passed away in 2018.

After living briefly in the city, the couple built a home in the southern end of Boone County near Fayette. While there over the next 30 or so years, they raised their three children and countless litters of beagle puppies. Frank worked many years as an executive for the Aero Drapery Company and spent countless volunteer hours coaching travel teams for Little League and Babe Ruth baseball at Whitestown and Lebanon.

In 1950 Frank joined in on what became an annual tradition with several of his boyhood friends. Each fall a group of about three dozen guys “from the old neighborhood” traveled to Lake of the Woods, Ontario angling for the coveted Musky. The group became legendary for their catches each October. Frank earned the nickname and title “The Champ” for the many Muskies he caught year after year. In 1974, he was winner of the Molson’s Big Fish Contest when he landed a record she-Musky that was 54’ long and weighed in at 46 pounds.

The fall fishing trips to Canada continued for more than 50 years only interrupted by border closings in the wake of 9/11.

Most years, Frank also loaded up the family and headed north for summer vacations to Lake of the Woods. In addition to fishing, he enjoyed sharing the wonders of the Canadian wilderness with Carolyn and the kids. Everyone learned to watch for eagles, appreciate the pensive call of Loons near sunset, and to watch the shoreline for bears, moose, and other wildlife. Shore lunches were always a part of the fun while visiting the north woods.

After the children were raised Frank and Carolyn purchased a hobby farm in rural Hamilton County near Cicero because it “just looked like a Grandma and Grandpa’s farm.” Around this time they also opened their own custom window treatment company, finally retiring about a decade ago when the travel bug took hold of them and they purchased a motor home.

Over the next several years they hit the road and visited the “lower 48.” They over-wintered several years at Silver Lakes Camp near Naples, Florida where they made many friends. Always in tow was their beloved West Highland Terrier, Duffy.

During the last two years of his life, Frank made his home at Sunrise Senior Living in Carmel where he made many new friends among both the staff and his fellow residents. He never quit “working on things,” and was always tinkering with this or that using the tools he kept stashed in his bedside table.

Frank leaves behind his three children, Kathryn (Kassie) Ritman, Frank Jr (Catherine Strong), and Sharon (JJ Flynn). He had seven grandchildren who put a twinkle in his eye -- Shawna Ladner, Caitlin White, Courtney Rector, Carrie Kershn, Mallory Ritman, Thomas Ritman, and Erin Flynn. His three little sisters survive him, Donna Edwards, Linda Miller, and Brenda McCoy (Mike). Additionally, he has four great grandchildren, and newly, one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved uncle Earl Newberry, his sister Faye Wright, and brother Tom Miller.

Visitation for Frank will be held Friday, June 18, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary, 2126 E 71st St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220. His Funeral Service will be Friday, June 18, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with entombment to follow at Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.