Reverend Dr. Ross J. Miller (’59)
This obituary was originally posted by Riverview Cemetery Funeral Home and can be found here.
The Reverend Doctor Ross James Miller, 89, of Portland, Oregon, died on January 8th, 2024. A life-long scholar, Dr. Miller graduated from Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kansas, with a music education degree, before pursuing graduate studies at Boston University School of Theology, Boston, Massachusetts, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California, and Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California, where he earned a PhD in Church History in 1971.
As an ordained United Methodist minister, Dr. Miller served 41 years as a United Methodist/ecumenical pastor with churches and campus ministries in Idaho (First Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation, Pocatello), California (Wesley Foundation, University of California, Riverside), Ohio (United Christian Fellowship, Bowling Green), and Oregon (Trinity United Methodist Church, Eugene, and First United Methodist Church, Portland). He was dedicated to building community wherever he landed.
Throughout his life he engaged with the great social issues of his time: racism, civil rights, poverty, homelessness, economic justice, war, academic freedom, environmental stewardship, and gay rights. An enthusiastic rock climber, hiker, camper, sometime bee- keeper, and gardener in his spare time, he loved being outdoors. Ross was a devoted flute player from age 11 on. That he worked his way through theological seminary playing flute with the Boston Symphony was an amusing, though untrue, rumor. Music, however, continued as a dominant factor in his life, as was reading scholarly works (alongside the funny papers), and relaxing/entertaining with friends and relatives.
He was a loving partner to his spouse, Nancy, for 66 years, an amazing father to their son, Nathan, and daughter, Dana, and a goofy, entertaining, grandfather to his grandchildren, Woodrow and Grace. Dr. Miller also leaves behind his sister, Beverley Lawrence, a violinist, with whom he shared a special bond of music.
Ross had a great (some would say corny) sense of humor, loved life, and positively impacted all who knew him. In retirement, he continued work with the Holocaust Memorial Task Force. He and Nancy participated in their neighborhood environmental group and served with others in the Beaverton area to cofound Viva Village, one of ten intentional Villages in the Portland area whose programs and services enable older adults to age well in their homes.