William Karl Miller, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on the 8th of April 2017 at age 96. Born in Beaumont, Texas on the 17th of December 1920, to William Karl and Cordelia Evangeline Wackerman Miller, he was the eldest son of five children.

Bill's dad died of heart failure on Christmas day, 1932, at the height of the Great Depression. Life was never quite as easy for the family, and his father's sudden passing made Bill the "man" of the family at the age of only 12. As his father's namesake, he was known as "Sonny" among his siblings. To help support the family, he sold eggs for a penny apiece before school, delivered newspapers during the week and sold them on the corner on weekends, worked in a fruit stand, and raised rabbits, chickens and pigeons. When Bill was 16, he left school to work for the Civilian Conservation Corporation and returned a year later to complete school. After graduating from Beaumont High School in Beaumont, Texas, he took a drafting job
with Gulf States Utilities.

In July of 1942, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy serving 3½ years on the WWII destroyer USS Juette. Like many men of his generation, he did not talk much about the war, but in later years, he was proud to wear his WWII Veteran's cap everywhere he went.

Since boyhood, Bill would spend summers with his aunt and uncle in Homerville, Ohio, working in his uncle's grocery store and on their farm. It was in Homerville, that he met the love of his life, Leona Mae Reese. They were married in Beaumont, Texas on March 23, 1944 while he was on leave from his ship that was being repaired in Charleston, South Carolina.

After the war, Bill enrolled in the University of Houston's Architectural program on the GI bill. He worked during the day to support his growing family and went to college at night. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1952 and Bachelor of Architecture in 1953. He worked for four years as a draftsman, before starting out on his own, designing houses of worship for Methodist, Baptist, Christian and Seventh Day Adventist churches. He and Eddie Dansby later formed their own firm, Dansby and Miller, AIA. For nearly fifty years, until the death of Mr. Dansby, they specialized in schools and municipal buildings and were credited with over 500 projects in Houston and the surrounding area. Bill was always known for his honesty and fairness in business and continued to go to the office until his retirement at the age of 86.

Bill, Leona and their extended family enjoyed many weekends and holidays at their ranch near Brenham. He spent many hours counting his cows and raising and showing his quarter horses on weekends and
holidays. All of their grandchildren loved spending weekends at the farm and especially fishing in the lake with grandpa.

William is predeceased by his parents and siblings Margaret "Maggie" Shannon, Gladys "Jack" Bennett, Walton "Gandy" Miller and Robert "Bunny" Miller. He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Leona, his daughter and her husband, Margaret Ann and Harold Mathis of Richmond, Texas, his two sons, William Karl Miller, II and wife Barbara of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Jeffrey Scott Miller of Pearland, Texas, five grandchildren, Benjamin Lamar Mathis of Pasadena, California, Kristopher Joseph Mathis and wife, Poonam of New York City, New York, Jeffrey Scott Miller, Jr. and wife, Emmaly of Webster, Texas, Justin Blake Miller and wife, Heather of Joplin, Missouri, and Jordon Blaine Miller of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma,
and two great-grandchildren, Lillian Grace Miller and Pierce Sharma Mathis.

A memorial service and inurnment for family and friends will be held at South Park Cemetery in Pearland, Texas on a future date.

Donations may be made to the charity of your choice in William Miller's name.

Condolence messages may be written for the family at www.garmanycarden.com.