Robert John “Bob” Miller, 79, of Paris, Tennessee, went on to his heavenly home Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Tri Star Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was born Friday, June 23, 1944, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the late Harry L. Miller, Jr. and the late Mary Sue Milburn Miller. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger sister: Ginger, in whose honor he was a bone marrow donor and a longtime blood donor.
Bob attended the McCallie School and graduated from Tyner High School in Chattanooga.
His working career began at Velway Leasing Co. in Chattanooga and Hertz in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He later went to work for Buick Motor Division as a district sales manager, serving in Hays and Wichita, KS, and Corpus Christi and Houston, TX.
In 1981, Bob purchased the Ed Covington Chevrolet, Cadillac and Oldsmobile dealership in Paris, TN.
Following his years as an automobile dealer, he opened Bob Miller Insurance Agency in Paris in 1983 and retired in 2010.
Bob served as President of the Nationwide Insurance Independent Contractors Association, representing the interests of Nationwide Insurance agents across the United States.
Bob was also a Paris Henry County Community Girls Chorus President and Board Member.
He was a past President of the Paris Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and a past President of Lakeway Kiwanis Club.
Bob was a current member of New Hope Baptist Church, where he enjoyed singing in his booming bass voice.
Bob loved boating, and spending time with family and friends at Kentucky Lake. He made countless river trips from Knoxville to Paris on the TN River 600, benefiting 2 children’s hospitals & the TWRA.
He enjoyed hunting for deer, bear, and big horn sheep in Wyoming, Colorado, and British Columbia.
Bob greatly loved German Shepherd dogs and had one all his adult years.
He was a UT football fan and attended the games with his wife for several seasons in their younger years.
He and his wife were avid tennis players and travelled extensively both in and out of the country.
Bob loved music and accompanied his wife to numerous musical theater productions.
He was a 2nd degree Brown Belt in Chinese Pa-Kua.
He made multiple Mission Trips in the 1990’s to Central and South America and the Caribbean to build churches and meet local missionary needs.
Bob’s enduring sense of humor never left him and he was truly a people person.
Bob was married to Linda Wilson Miller Saturday, June 11, 2005, and she survives in Paris, where they recently celebrated 18 years of marriage.
Besides his wife Linda, he is also survived by two daughters: Lessly Miller Williams, of Paris, Tennessee, and Kimberly Miller, of Nashville, TN; one son: Rush L. (Julie) Miller, of Franklin, TN; one stepson: Chad (Sabrena) Wilson, of Jackson TN; three grandchildren: Amber (David) Guffey, of Paris, TN, Perry Miller, of Franklin, TN, and Sam Miller, of Franklin, TN; step-grandchildren: Caiden, Neela, Rylan, and Annabelle Wilson, of Jackson TN; great granddaughter: Katherine King, of Memphis, TN; great grandsons: Adam Guffey, Troy Guffey, and Tyler Guffey, of Lexington TN; one great-great-grandson, Ace Odoms, of Memphis, TN; two sisters: Suzy Deierhoi and Sally Scholze, both of Chattanooga, TN; and his beloved German Shepherd dog: Yonka.
Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, Paris, TN, will be handling the arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, July 30, 2023, from 2 – 4 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 4:00 pm, Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Glynn Orr and Jim Farmer officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Joy Sunday School Class at New Hope Baptist Church.
The graveside service will be Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, at Forest Hills Cemetery, 4016 Tennessee Ave, Chattanooga, TN, 37409.
Memorials may be made in Bob’s memory to: Mission Ministries at New Hope Baptist Church, 1380 Clifty Rd, Paris, TN 38242 or Berea College, CPO 2216, Berea, KY 40404.
The family would like to thank the many medical professionals, & devoted caregivers Peg Reynolds and Nadine Walls, who cared for him over his last years of declining health.