Ira S. Miller, 106, of Dryfork, W.Va., died Oct. 29, 2023. He was born Jan. 27, 1917, in Yoder, Kan.

One of 12 children, he only had an eighth-grade education because he needed to work on the family farm, where he developed a great work ethic. His skills included farming, carpentry, trucking and masonry, but he was best known for being a beloved bus driver. During World War II he helped in the construction of Skyline Drive in Virginia and was later an orderly at Greystone Hospital in New Jersey, where he met and cared for Norman Rockwell.

In 1956, he and his wife, Mary Olive, and three oldest children moved from Delaware to Dryfork to help with a church plant. They only had $75 in their pockets.

He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and allowed the Lord to use him by serving others. He was a man of faith and a prayer warrior.

His hobbies included card games, weaving baskets, diamond art and packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Since turning 100, he packed 1,986 OCC shoeboxes. Additionally, he went snowmobiling and zip-lining and rode in a hot air balloon. He loved spending time with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Among his most beloved traits were his humor and quick wit. When someone asked how he felt, he would respond, “With my fingers”; or how he slept, “With my eyes closed.” When asked how old he was, he would say, “Old enough to vote.”

He is survived by his children, Mary Lou Edmands of Hagerstown, Mo., Debbie (David) Welch of Oakland, Mo., David (Susan) Miller of Dryfork, Keren (Rodney Palmer) Miller of Accident, Md., and Naomi (Sheldon) Martin of Lancaster, Pa.; daughters-in-law Rose Miller of LaGrange, Ind., and Michele Miller of Sarasota, Fla.; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his 11 siblings; his first wife, Ellen (Swartzendruber); his second wife, Mary Olive (Yoder); sons Philip and Jonathan; and sons-in-law Eric Osborne and Danny Edmands.