“Oh Crap, my name is finally in the obits.”

Noble Wales Miller, age 82, died Monday, October 1, 2007 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, surrounded by his loving family.

Noble was born on October 29, 1924 in Delta, OH to Roy Drayton and Ethel Bernice Miller. He graduated in 1942 from Burnham High School, Sylvania, OH. After graduation, he proudly served his country in the 297th Combat Engineers. Noble served in the Normandy Campaign, the Northern France Campaign and the Rhineland Campaign, wherein he was wounded on September 26, 1944. He was decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, Three Bronze Campaign Stars, the African Theater Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Noble was employed by the Wabash, Nickel Plate, Norfolk-Western and the Norfolk-Southern railroads, retiring in 1986. He was an avid bowler, participating in leagues at nearly every bowling alley in town. Noble served as an officer of the Toledo Bowling Association, serving 2 terms as President. During his first term as President, he bowled the first of his three perfect 300 games, becoming the only President of the TBA to bowl a perfect game while in office. He was an inductee into the National Amateur Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, MO. Noble was instrumental in forming many leagues in the Toledo area, including the Senior Traveling League, which is still active today.

He was an accomplished baseball player in his youth and was drawing the attention of the Pittsburgh Pirates scouts, while in the service. After his injury, Noble retained his love of the game, going on to coach many little league teams in the Sylvania and Washington Local School District.

Noble was a member of Joseph W. Diehn American Legion Post #468 in Sylvania, the Elks Club #53 in Sylvania Twp and was also a member of the Oddfellows and was a Kentucky Colonel.

Noble was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife Elaine (Ducat) Miller, and his siblings; Eva Lorita, John George”Tony”, Pierrepont Morgan “Pierre”, Clemma Catherine “Kate”, Blair Drayton “Duke”, and Juanita Maxine “Nete”.

Noble is survived by children Lynn (Jim) Zaenger of Overland Park, KS, Barbara (Joseph) Hudson of Lambertville, MI, Terry (Mary) Miller of Temperance, MI, Sue Whitenburg of Toledo, OH, Steve (Carol) Miller of Toledo, OH, Jeff (Vicki) Miller of Toledo, OH and Kuchcinski step-sons; Gary of Aruba, Terry of Manhattan, KS and Ron (Norm) of Napoleon, OH, his brother Roy Raymond “Ray” and Winifred (Bensch) Miller, the mother of his 6 children, grandchildren; Jennifer Boatwright, Melissa Hudson-Nowak, Douglas and Matthew Hudson, Kelly Whitenburg, Kristin, Rebecca, Kyle, Heather, Jeffrey, Maria and Zachary Miller; great grandchildren Austin Boatwright, Anderson Hudson, David Boatwright, Cathryn Nowak, Logan Hudson, Alexander Hudson, Nathan Nowak and Megan Boatwright.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff of the Toledo Hospital 8th floor and the staff of the west wing of Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg.

Friends are invited to join the family for a visitation at Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, OH on Thursday, October 5 from 3:00pm to 9:00p, where the service will be held on Friday at 11:00am, Reverend Richard O. Sauerlender, officiating. Those wishing to make a donation in Noble’s memory are encouraged to consider Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.reebfuneralhome.com.
 

Miss Me – But Let Me Go when I come to the end of the road;
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little – but not too long,
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me – but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me – but let me go.