Kenneth Leo Miller

Kenneth L. Miller, 81, of Lowndesville, SC, husband of Arline Gionet Miller, died Monday, May 30, 2016 at his home. He was born in Swissvale, PA to the late Leo A. and Anna George Miller. Mr. Miller was twice married, first to the late Janet C. Van Jeune, and secondly to Arline Miller, to whom he was married for 25 years. He was a God gifted mechanic with precocious ability, which caused his parents heart stopping distress from time to time, such as when he jacked up his father's cousin's garage at the tender age of four. He would pick through trash on the way home from parochial school, looking for objects he could take apart and put together. As a teen, in his spare time, he became a race car pit crew mechanic and a NASCAR driver. His stunt driving entertained the spectators during half time at the track. He was a National Champion model airplane stunt racer in his thirties, and later his skills as a craftsman were applied to amateur clock making and gunsmithing. He was raised by an exacting craftsman, who taught him that anything worth doing, was worth doing correctly. He learned to be a bricklayer at his father's knee, and learned to give his best effort to every endeavor. A devoted Catholic, he served as an altar boy when he was small and later helped his father, who owned a masonry company, do projects for the church. He contributed his skills to the brick work of the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC and his father's whole family helped to build St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hyattsville, MD. However, in his twenties, he switched careers to one for which he was even better suited. In the Washington, DC area, Mr. Miller became a renowned elevator constructor and mechanic, with over 50 years in the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC, Local 10). He gave 110% to his employers and learning his craft, and he was known among his peers as one of the best of the best. He was a man of integrity, his word was his bond, and he taught many men in this complex trade. His career culminated in his ownership (along with his wife) of Sterling Elevator Service, Inc. of Sterling, VA, which was sold when he retired. It was said by his peers in the trade and his family that he could "fix anything." For the last 12 years, he and his wife and stepson have been local timber farmers. He loved others with the same wide open throttle approach he took to everything. He was a caring, funny, generous and loving friend and family man. He was the kind of dynamic man, who could light up a room by his presence. He could be explosive when he encountered stupidity, risky or slip-shod work, or injustice, but he never carried a grudge. He was charismatic but genuine. He wore his heart on his sleeve…what you saw was what you got…no games, no falsehoods Over the years, he has volunteered to maintain and repair many churches and rectories. He cut lawns, plowed snow, fixed and refinished equipment and statuary, served as a Eucharistic Minister, Board Member, and cooked for church events. His favorite ministry was to cook and serve at the Shepherd's Table in Williamsport, MD, catering dinner for hundreds of elderly, poor, or shut-ins weekly. He was a great cook, and cookbooks were his favorite bathroom reading. His favorite cookbooks have pages marked with pieces of toilet paper. The food he prepared was always greatly appreciated and enjoyed by friends and family. His efforts on behalf of churches in Maryland were recognized when he received the Medal Of Honor from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He was a Life Member of the NRA and was, in recent years, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Abbeville. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a son, John Kenneth Miller and a brother, Ralph Miller. Mr. Miller is survived by his wife; a son, Raymond S. Quintavell, II (wife: Kristina) of Reston, VA; and five daughters: Kathleen Marie Sears (Mrs. John Robert) of York, PA, Bernadine Anne Pfister (Mrs. Charles) of Chicago, IL, Frances Michelle Pierce (Mrs.Christopher) of Hagerstown, MD, Faith Q. Keiser (Mrs. Kenton) of Lansdale, PA, and Karen Q. Radcliffe, MD of Kemah, TX; thirteen grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be held at 6:00 PM, Thursday, June 9, 2016, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Robert Sayer officiating. A future burial service for Mr. Miller's cremains will take place in Lilly, PA, at the cemetery of Our Lady of the Alleghenies. Mr. Miller's cremains will be encased in a vintage gear grease can at his request. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in memory of Mr. Miller, may be sent to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 812, Abbeville, SC 29620 or the NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax. VA 22030. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Miller family.