MILLER, James Virgil

The Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio GLENDALE, Ariz. -- James Virgil Miller, 87, died peacefully in his sleep on July 6, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. He was born March 15, 1924, to Ura R. and Mae (Hostetler) Miller in Holmes County. He was a member of Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville. Virgil received his B.A. from Goshen College and studied at the University of Michigan, where he earned an M.A. in English language and linguistics. During World War II, he entered Civilian Public Service in Mulberry, Fla., and traveled to Holland and Germany for volunteer work with Mennonite Central Committee. He then taught for the American Board of the Congregational Church in Tarsus and Ankara, Turkey. Through MCC Connections he met and married Susan Krahn on July 17, 1959 in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. Shortly thereafter they moved back to Ankara, Turkey, where they lived and worked another four years. They returned to the United States for a four-year teaching stint at Bluffton College in Bluffton. In 1970, he accepted a position at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, as a professor of English, where the family spent 15 years, the remainder of his teaching career. In 1985, they returned to Sarasota, Fla., where they lived until this year. In 2011, they moved to Glencroft Retirement Community in Glendale, Ariz. Virgil was an enthusiast of family history and genealogy. He wrote several books chronicling the history of prominent Mennonite families, beginning with his own roots, and culminating in his last book, "Both Sides of the Ocean," which compiled information on the Amish-Mennonites who emigrated from Switzerland to North America. He also wrote numerous articles for the magazine Mennonite Family History and the Hostetler family newsletter. He traveled worldwide, including riding the Trans-Siberian railroad and camping trips all over Europe and the Middle East. He was able to get along in many languages, including German, Dutch, French, Russian, Turkish and Arabic. He loved classical music, in particular the Baroque era, and he sang, played piano, and conducted community musical groups. He suffered many years from Parkinson's Disease and died from its complications. Virgil is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan; his three daughters Marjorie, Elaine, Lois and five grandchildren; two brothers, Howard and Bill, and a sister, Mary. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2011, at Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville. Family history friends are warmly invited to join family and friends in celebrating his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 824401, Philadelphia, Pa. 19182-4401; or Mennonite Central Committee, 21 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 500, Akron, Pa. 17501-0500.