Lester "Red" Miller

Lester “Red” L. Miller, 80, died Saturday afternoon, March 14, 2009, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend after a sudden illness. He was born in Goshen on April 18, 1928, to Vernon and Rosa (Metzler) Miller.  He married Edna E. Dike on November 8, 1952 in Markham, Ontario, Canada.  She died November 7, 1999. A Millersburg resident since 1969, Mr. Miller was a 40 year member of the Wawasee Lakeside Chapel.  He built silos for 35 years, set double wides for six years and worked at Woodland Park in Middlebury for ten years.  He was an avid collector, especially of stamps, coins, glass and elephants and was known as Santa Claus at University Park Mall, Concord Mall and at many private parties. He is survived by a daughter, Rose (Tom) Miller of Bristol; four sons, Jerry (Lora) Miller of Millersburg, Richard (Dione) Miller of Ligonier and John (Karen) Miller of Lafayette, Indiana; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and eight siblings, George (Emma) Miller of Goshen, James Miller of Mishawaka, Nora King of Goshen, Mary (Paul) Bradley of Elkhart, Jesse (Arlene) Miller of Wauseon, Ohio, Carol (Kenney) Tice of Elkhart, Shirley (Bruce Hamilton, Portland, Oregon, and Betty (Joe) Gruber of Mendon, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna; two sons, Matthew and Logan Miller; and an infant daughter, Esther. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, at the funeral home. A 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2009, funeral service will be conducted at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  Rev. Harlan Steffen of the Wawasee Lakeside Chapel in Syracuse, will officiate. Burial will be in Violett Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be given to Wawasee Lakeside Chapel.