Thomas J. Miller, 84, St. Marys, died at 8:35 p.m. June 28, 2013, at Otterbein Retirement Community in St. Marys.

He was born Jan. 24, 1929, in Chicago, Ill., to Theodore and Thelma Clark Miller. He married Beverly Heil on March 13, 1948, and she survives at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community.

He is also survived by four children, Lean (Stan) Wendel of Vandalia, Mo., Vicki (Terry) Roode of Celina, David (Mary Ellen) Miller of St. Marys and Nancy (Tim) Gross of St. Marys; nine grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Miller.

He was a 1947 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He retired from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, where he served as a dredge operator at many state parks in Ohio, including East Harbor State Park and Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. He had also worked at St. Marys Trucking, and for many years, he operated his own sign painting company. He enjoyed bowling and auto racing. He loved working in his garage, where he designed and built a street-legal car and a pontoon boat.
He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Marys. He also enjoyed traveling.

Funeral rites are noon Tuesday at Miller Funeral Home, West Chapel. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Tom Miller Tree Fund, where the proceeds will be used to plant trees at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park.

Condolences may be left at Millerfuneralhomes.net.