Paula Miller
Auf wiedersehen to Paula Miller, who passed away on April 1, 2014. Born on May 2, 1934 in Falkenstein amTaunus, Germany to Fanny Hausser and Heinrich Haesselbach,the family moved to Eschborn am Taunus in 1939. Paula studied cosmetology and trained as a milliner. She met and married Arthur “Bud” V. Miller, Jr., while he was stationed in Germany with the US Air Force. In 1954 she immigrated to Marietta and was very proud when she became a US citizen in 1962. The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2012.
She worked at Forma Scientific (now Thermo Fisher) and, later with her husband, was a co-owner of the family business Miller Welding & Machine. Until recently she continued to work with her son at Miller's AM-PM Marathon on State Route 821.
She was active with the Lady Elks and an auxiliary member of VFW Post 5108. An original member of the German Women's Club of the Mid-Ohio Valley, she served as club president and for many years helped organize the annual Fasching (Mardi Gras) celebration. She shared her German heritage with many in Marietta, yet also shared her love of America by hosting foreign exchange students from Japan, Mexico and Germany. In 1957 her sister Emma, husband Harry Berendts and their sons also migrated from Germany to Marietta. Paula's mother also visited many times over the decades, teaching the younger generation about German culture and traditions.
Paula loved to travel, returning to Germany often to visit family and then exploring other European countries. In 1969 Paula and Bud represented the Marietta Lions Club at the International Lions Convention in Japan which also was the opportunity to visit to Hong Kong, Hawaii and Alaska. In 1970 she returned to Eschborn am Taunus to celebrate the town's 1200th anniversary of its founding in 770. In 2005 she traveled to Germany with her beloved granddaughter Gretchen. In recent years she enjoyed watching Gretchen play soccer, perform at piano recitals and in school plays.
She is survived by her husband Bud; children Charlotte Patricia (Peter) Keim; A.V. Miller III, Pamela (Eric) Lankford; granddaughter Gretchen Lankford; and nephews Andy (Linda) Berendts of Columbus and Bernd (Lisa) Berendts of Marietta; and her extended family in Germany.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister.
There will be a brief memorial service at 2:00 pm, Monday, April 14 at the First Congregational Church, Marietta. Friends are also invited to an open house to celebrate Paula's life and her German heritage with food, beverage and music. It will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm on April 14 at the VFW Post 5108 at 319 Pike Street in Marietta.
She was a body donor to the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers be made to the First Congregational Church, 318 Front Street, Marietta of which she was a member since 1955.