Obituary for James Lee Miller Sr.
James Lee Miller Sr., of Dover NH, passed away surrounded by family early Monday, October 24, 2022. He was born on March 24, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts to parents Leopold Miller and Helen (Nevers) Miller.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Jim’s first job was selling magazines door-to-door at the age of 6-7 in Boston. Later, the family moved to South Portland ME until Jim was in fifth grade. His next job was as a dishwasher at the Puritan Tea Room in Portland, where he ended up being promoted to head fry cook while he was in 7th grade! To quote Jim: “I thought I was the cat’s meow!”
Jim was an alumnus of Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, class of 1950, where he played baseball, football, and was co-captain of the basketball team. During his high school years, Jim also worked at the Armstrong Lunch Counter at the railroad station in Dover, and as a contractor digging septic systems.
After graduation, Jim joined the US Navy during the Korean War, and served on the USS Wisconsin and the USS Baltimore. He was aboard the Baltimore when it represented the US at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
While on leave, Jim met his future wife Betharlene “Betty” Weeden at a Christmas party (Jim’s mother Helen was Betty’s Sunday school teacher). They married in 1954. After leaving the service, the Millers lived in Dover and Gonic, and then built a house in Dover, where they raised their children James Jr, Dorothy, and Beth.
Jim worked hard for his family and took on many jobs over the years to support them. These included being a milkman for Witherell’s Dairy in Rochester and working for his father as a plumber. His background served him well when he got a job at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as an apprentice, working up to and eventually retiring as head of nuclear inspection. While working at the Shipyard, Jim also co-owned and operated Clam Haven, a drive-in on route 16B in Dover serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried seafood during the late 50’s and early 1960’s.
To get extra money, at various times, Jim raised and sold poodles and Schnauzers, and strung Christmas lights (along with his brother and his son, Jim, Jr.) for several seacoast cities.
In addition to earning money, Jim was a very active volunteer in his church and in the community. He completed the plumbing for his church, the Assembly of God, in both Dover and at his winter church in Davenport FL. He was the youth minister for many years at the Assembly in Dover. In the community, Jim was an active member of the Lion’s Club, becoming club president. Jim loved cooking for others at the clubhouses of Jensen’s (where he was president for several years) in Dover and at the development where he lived during the winter in Florida after his retirement.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, and by his sister Marilyn Gould, and his brother Robert Miller, both of Dover. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betharlene (Weeden) Miller, sister Lisa Weller, sister-in-law Beatrice (Tootsie) Mille, all of Dover, and children James Miller, Jr., of Wakefield; Dorothy Cheeseman, of Dover; and Beth Wiggins, of Rochester. He was “Bumpa” to his grandchildren Megan and Scott Miller; Mykl Dunning and Heidi Reilly; and Mark Wiggins and Kristen Rowell; and three great-grandchildren, Haleigh and Ireland Reilly; and Owen Rowell.
Visiting hours will be held at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home 655 Central Ave, Dover NH on Sunday, October 30 from 2pm to 4pm. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 31, 2022, 11AM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Future In Sight, New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Donate here.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Jim’s first job was selling magazines door-to-door at the age of 6-7 in Boston. Later, the family moved to South Portland ME until Jim was in fifth grade. His next job was as a dishwasher at the Puritan Tea Room in Portland, where he ended up being promoted to head fry cook while he was in 7th grade! To quote Jim: “I thought I was the cat’s meow!”
Jim was an alumnus of Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, class of 1950, where he played baseball, football, and was co-captain of the basketball team. During his high school years, Jim also worked at the Armstrong Lunch Counter at the railroad station in Dover, and as a contractor digging septic systems.
After graduation, Jim joined the US Navy during the Korean War, and served on the USS Wisconsin and the USS Baltimore. He was aboard the Baltimore when it represented the US at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
While on leave, Jim met his future wife Betharlene “Betty” Weeden at a Christmas party (Jim’s mother Helen was Betty’s Sunday school teacher). They married in 1954. After leaving the service, the Millers lived in Dover and Gonic, and then built a house in Dover, where they raised their children James Jr, Dorothy, and Beth.
Jim worked hard for his family and took on many jobs over the years to support them. These included being a milkman for Witherell’s Dairy in Rochester and working for his father as a plumber. His background served him well when he got a job at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as an apprentice, working up to and eventually retiring as head of nuclear inspection. While working at the Shipyard, Jim also co-owned and operated Clam Haven, a drive-in on route 16B in Dover serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried seafood during the late 50’s and early 1960’s.
To get extra money, at various times, Jim raised and sold poodles and Schnauzers, and strung Christmas lights (along with his brother and his son, Jim, Jr.) for several seacoast cities.
In addition to earning money, Jim was a very active volunteer in his church and in the community. He completed the plumbing for his church, the Assembly of God, in both Dover and at his winter church in Davenport FL. He was the youth minister for many years at the Assembly in Dover. In the community, Jim was an active member of the Lion’s Club, becoming club president. Jim loved cooking for others at the clubhouses of Jensen’s (where he was president for several years) in Dover and at the development where he lived during the winter in Florida after his retirement.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, and by his sister Marilyn Gould, and his brother Robert Miller, both of Dover. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betharlene (Weeden) Miller, sister Lisa Weller, sister-in-law Beatrice (Tootsie) Mille, all of Dover, and children James Miller, Jr., of Wakefield; Dorothy Cheeseman, of Dover; and Beth Wiggins, of Rochester. He was “Bumpa” to his grandchildren Megan and Scott Miller; Mykl Dunning and Heidi Reilly; and Mark Wiggins and Kristen Rowell; and three great-grandchildren, Haleigh and Ireland Reilly; and Owen Rowell.
Visiting hours will be held at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home 655 Central Ave, Dover NH on Sunday, October 30 from 2pm to 4pm. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 31, 2022, 11AM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Future In Sight, New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Donate here.