Arthur “Bud” Miller, Jr.
On March 28, 2019, Arthur V. Miller, Jr., was reunited in Heaven with his beloved wife Paula. He was a husband, father, businessman, entrepreneur, adventurer and storyteller. Nicknamed Buddy as a toddler, he was called Bud by most of his family and friends. He was born in Belpre on November 20, 1931 to Arthur V. Miller, Sr., and Edith Adams Miller. He lived in Belpre, Constitution, Newark, and Canton before the family returned to Marietta after WWII. He enjoyed working on machinery, especially cars. His teen years were spent working in area gas stations, including ones owned by Ralph Rinard and Bud Lafober. He was a member of the National Guard and after graduation in 1950 from Marietta High School, he enlisted in the US Air Force.
While serving in Germany, he met and married Paula Haesselbach of Eschborn am Taunus. Together they had three children who survive, Charlotte Patricia (Peter) Keim, Arthur “A.V.” Miller III, Victoria Pamela (Eric) Lankford and a granddaughter, Gretchen Lankford. He supported his children’s activities, becoming a crew and band parent and later a soccer grandparent. The family hosted foreign exchange students from Europe, Mexico and Japan.
Bud worked in the family business, Miller Welding & Machine, founded in 1948 by his parents. He later purchased the business, expanding its services and products, including a subsidiary company Miller Watercraft in 1973. He was proud of the Miller pump jack, designing an improved gearbox, which can still be found in operation throughout the Midwest. In 1985 he purchased the former Double H garage, renaming it Miller’s AM-PM. Bud spent his later years working with A.V., his son, fulfilling his early dream of owning a gas station.
He loved to travel. In 1969 he and Paula attended the Lions International Convention in Tokyo, Japan. He traveled throughout Europe many times, touring with friends and family and visiting relatives in Germany. Vacations were usually spent traveling, including motor trips to Canada, Mexico, and most of the USA. He and Paula loved that they were able to offer tours of the USA to visiting relatives from Germany, with Washington D.C. and Florida as favorite destinations.
A staunch supporter of his community, he donated numerous flagpoles and handrails to area parks, churches and other organizations. He took great pride in helping secure and refurbish the cannon now located on the Armory lawn. He was a proud Lions Club member, serving as a director, officer and club president. He was a member of the Selby General Hospital Board of Directors, serving as treasurer and then becoming president in 1985. Active with the CIC and a strong supporter of economic development efforts, he was recognized in 1966 with an Orchid Award for helping raise $100,000 for the purchase of land to develop the Marietta Industrial Park. Bud was involved in workforce development programs, including advising the vocational school, now the Washington Country Career Center, and appointed to the Workforce Investment Board. Recognizing a need for safe water, he and his neighbor Bob Scott were instrumental in the formation of the Highland Ridge Water Association. Throughout his life he was involved in many organizations including the American Legion, V.F.W., B.P.O.E., American Welding Society, Manufacturers’ Association and many others.
In addition to his children and granddaughter, he is survived by special nephews Andy (Linda) Berendts and Ben (Lisa) Berendts plus other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Paula; his parents; special brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harry and Emma Berendts; and his sisters, Melma (Donald) Robinson, Carol ( Michael) Elavsky, and Mary Maria (Eugene) Elavsky.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm, Thursday, April 11 at the First Congregational Church, Marietta. with a reception following at the Marietta VFW Post 5108 at 319 Pike Street from 4 to 7 pm. Friends and family are invited to attend and share memories and tell stories.
He 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 he was a member since 1955.