Archie Miller

Archie Dale Miller, 78 year-old longtime Seminole resident, business owner and community leader passed from this life Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma just three days short of his 79th Birthday. He was born July 22, 1929 in Seminole, Oklahoma to parents William Chester ?W.C.? Miller and Roxanna Ethel (Hammond) Miller. Archie?s mother died when Archie was three years old and his father later married Lillian Alice Miller who helped raised Archie.rnrnArchie graduated from Varnum High School and also Oklahoma A&M in Okmulgee. He later married Verlin Mae Weston on August 25, 1950 at First Baptist Church in Seminole. He also served in the United States Army and Oklahoma National Guard from which he retired, earning the rank of Captain.rnrnArchie?s father and mother, W.C. Miller & Alice Miller, started Miller Plant Farm in Seminole in 1937, at the Carter Camp two miles north of Seminole. Their first greenhouse consisted of an eight foot by ten-foot lean-to on the side of the family?s home. Watering was done by hand pump. The Millers moved to their present location in 1938 and built a greenhouse out of window sashes. The first store-bought greenhouse was moved to Seminole from Ada and Alice sewed muslin cloth together and W.C. stretched it over the frame. Now, over two acres of greenhouses have been installed, one by a Dutch crew back in 1977.rnrnArchie worked for the Boy Scouts of America for several years but returned to the family business in 1970 due to his fathers declining health. The business would continue forward involving even the third generation of the Miller family. The business is still in operation just north of Seminole on Hwy. 99. They recently celebrated their 71st year in business. He was a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association and was named Grower of the Year in 2002.rnrnArchie always continued his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award in 1980 by the Last Frontier Council, which is the highest award that can be bestowed upon anyone by a local council. Miller was active in the Boy Scouts for over 31 years. He started as a Cub Scout and graduated through the ranks. As Scoutmaster he served Troops 474 and 472 in Seminole for several years. He also served Scouting in Cherokee, Oklahoma and San Angelo, Texas as a professional Scouter as District Executive and later as Field Director. In recent years, he served as a committee chairman for his son Glen?s Troop (973) in El Reno. He also organized and directed the shooting range for the Canadian Valley District?s annual Cub Scout Day Camp.rnrnArchie had attended the First Baptist Church of Seminole and was currently a member of the Congregational Methodist Church on Goodhope Road in Seminole.rnrnAnother passion of Archie?s was flying. He was a pilot for over 45 years.rnrnArchie leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 58 years, Verlin Miller, of the home in Seminole. Mother Lillian Alice Miller of Seminole. Two sons and daughters-in-law, Glen and Stacey Miller of El Reno, Oklahoma and David and Ana Miller of Albuquerque, New Mexico and by one daughter, Barbara Bilbrey of Ft. Worth, Texas. Also surviving is one sister, Imogene Roe of Seminole, Oklahoma. 4 grandchildren: Chase Bilbrey, Andrew Miller, Erin Miller and Aryean Miller and by one great grandson, Corbin Sebastian Bilbrey. Archie is also survived by a host of other family and dear friends.rnrnArchie is preceded in death by his biological mother, Roxanna (Hammond) Miller; his father W.C. Miller; one brother, Bill Dean Miller; one granddaughter, Emilly Miller (1990) and by one daughter, Linda Diane Miller (2007).rnrnFuneral Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Seminole. Dr. Daniel J. Grimes (Archie's Minister at Seminole's Congregational Methodist Church) will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Little Cemetery north of Seminole with Full Military Honors.rnrnThe family will receive friends at Swearingen Funeral Home Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.rnrnThe casket will remain open until service time and will not be opened following the service.rnrnCasket Bearers will be: Kenneth Mendenhall, Martin Prieto, Chase Bilbrey, Andrew Miller, Jim Rider and Jim Robertson.rnrnHonorary Bearers will be: Don Cossey, Jud Weston, Gene Dixon, Jerry Minihan, Rodd Mozell, Charles Shakleford, Kim Boydston, Matt Riffle, Albert Trimble, 45th Infantry Division, Boy Scouts of America and the Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association.rnrnServices are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.rn Funeral Information: July 22, 2008, 10:30 AM