Carol Miller

Madison: Carol Edward Miller Jr. passed away Saturday January 7th at Oakwood retirement Home. He was 87 years old. Carol was born April 25th, 1929 in Hutchinson Kansas. He spent most of his childhood in St. Louis and Kirkwood Missouri. The first son of Carol E. Miller and Katherine Magdalin Miller (Schmick). Elaine Adams Miller, his wife of 51 years, died in June of 2009. His only sibling, John J. Miller (b. 1934) proceeded him, also in 2009.

Carol is survived by his four children James C. of Monument CO, Kenneth A. of Bar Harbor ME (Deborah), Stephen E. of Middleton WI (Amy), and Kathy Hosmer of Monument CO, and seven Grandchildren, (from oldest to youngest) Aaron Miller, Bay Hosmer, Ry Hosmer, Mallory Miller, Pearl Hosmer, Maisie Miller and Josh Miller.

Carol graduated from Kirkwood MO HS in 1947. Four years later in 1951, he graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Washington University (St. Louis). After attending Divinity School at the University Chicago for one year he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He acted as a navigator working in the North Pacific guiding Planes and Ships for the U.N. Police Action in Korea. He continued in the Coast Guard Reserves until 1978, retiring as a Commander. Upon returning to Chicago he enrolled at the University of Chicago school of Law (J.A. 1957).

While in Law school he met and dated Elaine Adams. She was the daughter of a divinity school professor. They married in 1958 with her father and two other Divinity School colleagues presiding at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago.

Carol never did practiced Law. His first job was in Administration at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD. Their four children were born in D.C. In 1968 Carol moved the family to Madison Wisconsin where he had taken a job as a Asst. Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin. He retired from this job in 1994.

Carol was a member of Historic Madison and knowledgeably and gleefully led walks through the Mansion Hill district of Madison for many years. He was a member, served on many committees and gave Meeting House tours, at the First Unitarian Society of Madison. He was an avid concert goer, amateur pianist and lover of music who attended countless professional and Student performances at the University, Madison Symphony and other area arts organizations with his wife Elaine. He participated in an early morning exercise group at the Natatorium while working at the University from 1968 into retirement until he was one of its last surviving members.

We wish to thank all that cared for Carol at Oakwood Village in his final years, and his third son Stephen and his family who looked after him for the years after Elaine's death. No memorial service is immediately planned, please send gifts in Carol's name to Madison Symphony Orchestra, First Unitarian Society of Madison, or Historic Madison.

And, thanks for all the Fish

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Cress Funeral Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434