William Paul Miller

December 24, 1921 - January 8, 2015

Bill Miller, beloved patriarch, passed away peacefully in the presence of family at home on January 8 at the age of 93.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Audray, his son, Ray and his grandson, Jeremy Benjamin. He is survived by his son Chris (Sandie) Miller of Boise Idaho, his daughter, Joyce (Mike) Benjamin of Hillsboro, Oregon and daughter Claudia (Rob) Motal of San Ramon, California his seven grandchildren, Christopher ( Shannon) Miller, Tim Miller, Dr. Amie Miller, Jessica Miller, Eric (Jena) Benjamin, Matt Motal and Lindsay Motal, and two Great grandchildren, Bailey Miller and Chase Benjamin.

Bill was born Christmas Eve 1921 in Lemon Grove. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and graduated from Grossmont High School in 1940. His lifelong passion for music began early, taking drum lessons at age 10. His skill quickly showed and he joined The Bonham Brothers Band two years later. A highlight of his early music career was playing drums in the 1934 Rose Parade. His music career continued to blossom as he joined the Officers Club Jazz Band. He then joined the Alesi Pisano band where he played 20 years with his lifelong friend, Pete Alesi. Bill continued playing the drums in Senior Centers many more years before putting down the drumsticks in 2012.

Bill was a radio operator on a C47 in the Army Air Corp in 1942-1945.

Bill was a longtime fixture at the Miller Dairy. Bill's father started the dairy in 1926 on the 16 acres with one cow and a lemon orchard. The last cow was milked February 1985 when the dairy closed. During that time Bill kept the cows happy and the equipment running and his customer’s happy, delivering fresh milk in the predawn hours. Bill was a familiar sight in his Detroit Industrial milk truck. He drove the route in more trusting times entering unlocked kitchen doors and putting milk bottles directly in the refrigerator.

Bill met his lifelong love, Audray Wahl, in 1943 on the Admiral Kidd Paddlewheeler in Saint Louis on the Mississippi River. They were married July 4, 1944. They lived at the Miller Dairy milk house before moving to their own home in Lemon Grove where they raised their family. Family was most important to Bill.

Bill was an active member of VFW Post 1512, a former member of the Knights of Columbus, a long long member of the Musician's Union and a parishioner of Santa Sophia Catholic Church in Spring Valley.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Bill knew him to be a man of deepest integrity, wit and with a sparkling sense of humor.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, January 14, at Conrad Mortuary in Lemon Grove at 4pm – 7pm with a Vigil service at 6pm.

Friends and families are invited to a Celebration of Bill's Life at a 10:30am Mass at Santa Sophia Catholic Church. 9800 San Juan Street, Spring Valley, CA on Thursday, January 15. The burial will immediately follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Sharp Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1750, La Mesa, CA 91944 or www.sharp.com/hospice. Their kind care contributed measurably to Bill’s comfort on these final months.