Ralph L. Miller ’57 died on September 7, 2023, in Rockport, Maine.
(The following was provided by Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service on September 9, 2023:)
Ralph L. Miller ’57
The Reverend Ralph L. Miller, 89, husband of Patricia (Wentworth) Miller, went to heaven on September 7, 2023. He died surrounded by his family at their home on the Miller Farm in Simonton’s Corner in Rockport, which has been in the family for over 100 years.
Ralph was born at the Miller Farm on May 6, 1934. He was the son of Laurence W. Miller and Merle Annis Miller. He was a graduate and class president of Camden High School, Class of 1953, and a graduate of Bowdoin College. He earned his master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary. As a youth, he was a member of the 4H, and received the National Scholarship for Home Improvement from the president of Sears Roebuck at their National Convention for 4H in Chicago in 1952.
In 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Wentworth.
While at Bowdoin, he was a student minister at Orr’s and Bailey Island, where their first child, Stephen, was born. After moving to Portland, Laurence, Timothy and Bethany were born.
Ralph served as pastor of the following United Methodist churches in Maine, Orr’s and Bailey Island, Congress Street and Italian Methodist in Portland, West Cumberland, Thornton Heights in South Portland, Bath, Cape Elizabeth, Union and Searsmont. After his retirement he pastored at South Thomaston, Brunswick, Rockland Congregational and also Shinnston, West Virginia. He served as council director for the Maine United Methodist Conference and as superintendent of the United Methodist Central District.
Ralph was the first pastor in Maine sent to Israel by the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Maine.
During his life he was a member of the Federal Masonic Lodge in Rockport, was a Rotarian, a member of the Democratic Party, South Portland and Bath City committees, president of Bath Red Cross, and trustee and secretary of the Union Fair.
He and Pat retired to the Miller Farm raising and selling pumpkins and vegetables. School children would visit and pick their own pumpkins in the fields, and sold custom crafts in the barn. A highlight for many visitors was seeing Zipper the horse. Ralph enjoyed giving hayrides on his tractor and telling stories of the history of the area and experiences of growing up on the farm. In addition to his love of farming, he and Pat always enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also spent winters in Florida for ten years and enjoyed many cruises.
Ralph is survived by his devoted wife of sixty-eight years, Patricia Miller; their children Stephen Paul Miller, Timothy Scott Miller and his wife. Erin, and Bethany Joy and her husband. Alan. Their son Laurence Ralph Miller died in 2010. He also leaves six grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.