John Miller

John Dabney Miller passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. He was 91. He was born at Fruitland in Locust Hill and lived in the county his whole life. He served in the U.S Coast Guard during World War II. John started out on the water as an oysterman. He then went to work at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown and retired after 25 years in 1973. He served as the Middlesex County Building Inspector for a year before deciding to return to the water. John built his boat “John Boy” and started taking fishing parties out of Locklies Creek. He continued to do this well into his eighties. John, Annie Belle and their entourage of family, friends, and neighbors enjoyed many happy hours fishing on the Rappahannock on the “John Boy”. John was a member of Harmony Grove Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, was deacon emeritus, and served as chairman of the board of trustees. He was member of Donovan Lodge No. 75 AF & AM in Deltaville for 66 years and was past master of the lodge.

John was predeceased by his wife, Annie Belle; three brothers, Wharton, Ulman, and Dink; two sisters, Margaret and Josephine. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Mary Lou Miller of Locust Hill, two granddaughters, Connie Miller (Daniel West) of Gloucester Point, Chris Gresham and her husband Scott of Urbanna, two great-grandchildren, Emma and Matthew Gresham; one brother, Virgil Miller of Deltaville.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM Monday Dec. 9th at Harmony Grove Baptist Church, Topping with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment with Masonic rites will be in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Middlesex Vol. Rescue Squad, PO Box 98, Deltaville, VA 23043 or Hartfield Vol. Fire Dept., PO Box 205, Hartfield, VA 23071. Arrangements by Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Saluda.