Newton Miller Obituary

Newton B. Miller, Jr. passed peacefully from this world while surrounded with love on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Newt was born on April 12, 1934 in Buechel, KY to Newton and Amelia Miller. Other than a brief tour serving with the U.S. Army in Korea in the 1950s, he never strayed far from his roots and remained a proud "Buechelite" and alumnus of Fern Creek High School (Class of 1954) for the remainder of his life.
Newt had a gift for finding joy and wonderment in even the most ordinary aspects of daily life. Even a simple drive across town was an opportunity for a new experience or a chance to meet someone new. His most grand adventure took place in 1958 when he happened to walk past Newkirk's Drug Store in J-town and spied a tall, pretty brunette working the cash register. Newt walked into Newkirk's every day for a week to buy a pack of gum until he worked up the courage to start a conversation. He married that pretty brunette in 1959, and Elois Miller (Eells) was the love of his life and a constant companion to the end.
Never one to shy away from a hard day's work, Newt had his first job pumping gas at the old Stutzenburger Gulf station (owned by his maternal grandfather) in Buechel as a young boy. He loved to talk about his favorite job as a young man, working at Fanelli's Ice Cream-and in case you didn't know, chocolate was always the last flavor made each day! After his time in the Army, Newt worked as a mechanic at Kelly's Garage until finally starting at the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary as a groundskeeper in the early 1960s. He worked his way up to the Director of Buildings and Grounds before finally retiring from the seminary in 1996.
Born with a mechanical mind and talented hands that could fix anything, Newt lived by the simple philosophy of "if I can make it, why buy it?" and "if I can fix it, why replace it?" He was a master tinkerer and a collector of many obscure and fascinating things-from Ford Model Ts to steam engines and model trains. If there was something collectible, Newt likely had one or two, or a dozen of them stashed away. One of his favorite activities after retirement was accompanying Elois to yard sales and estate auctions. With her keen eye for a diamond in the rough, and his skills at restoration, the two of them salvaged many beautiful pieces of fine antique furniture.
But Newt's greatest passion was always his family. He never passed up an opportunity to brag about one of his children or grandchildren, and his most cherished time was when they were all together for a birthday celebration, holidays or even a simple Sunday dinner. He didn't know the meaning of "in-law", and once you became part of the Miller family he treated you like one of his own. Newt Miller loved as he lived-pure, honest and simply grand!
Left to cherish Newt's memory are his beloved wife Elois Eells Miller, daughters Cynthia Tikhomirova (Taras), Elizabeth Keller (Shawn), sons Todd Miller and Keith Miller (Jenny), grandchildren Nate Keller, Jeremy Miller (Sarah), Drew Keller (Kelsey), Meghan Miller and Eleazar Tikhomirov, great-grandchildren Elijah Miller and Amelia Keller and his sister-in-law Shirley Jean Lantvit.
The next time you ride past an antique mall, cruise through Costco, see a model T or a new restaurant open; think of Newton and know he would have loved to enjoy that adventure with you.
In lieu of flowers Newt would want you to have your family out for dinner and don't forget the dessert.
His funeral is 11am Friday, March 7, 2025 at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY with private burial. Visitation is 3-7pm Thursday, March 6, 2025.