Edmond Franklin Miller, 90, of West Chicago, Ill., died Oct. 31, 2024. He was born March 9, 1934, near Walpole, Ill., to Allen and Myrtle (Russell) Miller.
He and his wife, Wendy J. (Hill) Miller, celebrated their 65th anniversary in August. Married in Elgin, Ill., they served as missionaries with Youth for Christ in Frankfurt, Germany, in the 1960s. Both were later ordained within Mennonite Church USA, serving congregations across the Midwest and eastern United States, including several assignments as intentional interim ministry specialist.
Ed was licensed to preach in the Southern Baptist Church at 16. He graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College, earning bachelor and master of theology degrees. He served Calvary Memorial (Oak Park) and High Road Bible (Romeoville) in Illinois; Stephens City, Springdale (Waynesboro) and Woodland (Basye) Mennonite in Virginia; Sugar Creek Mennonite in Wayland, Iowa; Union Presbyterian in Walton, Ind., and Bethlehem Mennonite in Pennsylvania.
He also worked buildings and grounds at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Va. In retirement he supervised people being trained as spiritual directors at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and with several United Methodist regional conferences and lived in intentional community in Texas and North Carolina.
A skilled carpenter and handyman, he was quick to assist those in need. Known for his commitment to peace and justice and disciplined spiritual practice as well as humor and skill as a storyteller and family historian, he was quick to befriend any he met.
In addition to his wife, he leaves five children and their spouses, Paul Miller (David Selmer) of Poland, Maine, David Miller (Julie) of Louisville, Ky., Mark Miller (Wendy) of Hesston, Kan., Scott Miller (Laura) of West Chicago and Heidi Miller (Gary MacDonald) of Lawrenceville, Ga.; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Judy Miller (Jerry) of Vienna, Ill.; and beloved in-laws in Britain.
A memorial service will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Carol Stream, Ill. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Disaster Service.
