Robert Miller Obituary

Robert (Bob) Eugene Miller, aged 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 7, 2025. Bob was born on December 7, 1935, in Mills River, North Carolina, to Raif and Ruby Miller. He was the second eldest of four children. Bob met his bride, Betty Joanne Heykoop, at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where they resided until September 2024. Bob and Betty's 65 years of marriage were a testament to God's faithfulness and a blessing to those around them. Bob and Betty had three beloved children. Bob was preceded in death by daughter Michelle and son Todd, as well as by parents Raif and Ruby and brother Kenneth. Bob is survived by his wife Betty, son Derek and daughter-in-law Beth (Miller), daughter-in-law Robyn (Miller), granddaughter Kendal (Zhang) and grandson-in-law Gary Zhang, granddaughter Colette, granddaughter Ruby, and great-grandson Roman Zhang. In addition, Bob is survived by sisters Edith (Baldwin) and Hazel (Benzing), brother-in-law Ron Benzing, sister-in-law Norma (Miller), and many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. After several years as a Marine Corps airplane mechanic, Bob was honorably discharged. He then worked as an Allstate Insurance Agent until his first retirement and operated a stump-grinding business for many years thereafter. Bob cared deeply for his family and friends-he often showed this care through abounding generosity and service. He labored alongside Betty to build a lake house that became ground for years of joyful gatherings; he built fires in his backyard shelter to provide a place for sweet fellowship; and he used his woodworking skills to craft gifts for loved ones, particularly, his handcrafted stools. He was often a quiet man in crowds; nevertheless, his warmth was imminent: if you caught his attention for a moment amidst the busy noise of large gatherings, you would often get a smile and a wink. He was a man of many interests: he enjoyed listening to hymns, opera, and classical music; traveling; reading; woodworking; and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was adept at both ping-pong and tennis. He spent many weekends on Lake Hartwell with his family and friends and could often be found doing high speed donuts and figure eights on a jet-ski. Above all, Bob's faith in Jesus was the guiding pillar of his life. He shared his faith regularly and openly. His prayers always included gratefulness and love to the Lord, even amidst hardship. Bob was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and he faithfully supported missions through charitable giving. While his wife Betty, family, and many friends in Greenville and beyond will miss Bob very much, they are comforted that his legacy of faith in Jesus will live on, and that he will be reunited with many of his loved ones in heaven. Visitation with the family will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 12, in Altizer Chapel of Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mission's Fund at Calvary. Below is a link to view the service.