Vernon J. Miller

Vernon Joseph Miller, 95, of East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the M. S. Hershey Medical Center after being admitted in the early afternoon.

Born September 19, 1921 in Lebanon, he was a son of the late John A. and Pearl E. (Swanger) Miller of Myerstown and was also preceded in death by brothers William Miller and John Miller.

A 1940 graduate of Myerstown High School, he was a lifelong farmer. He lived with his wife on their Windy Hill Farm in East Hanover Township for 66 years. He retired from New Cumberland Army Depot as an aircraft inspector.  He was a member of Faith United Church of Christ and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau of Dauphin County.  A U. S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. He served in the 4th Marine Division, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Regiment as a 1st machine gunner in the first wave that landed on Yellow Beach 2. He received an honorable discharge as a Corporal and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of Shellsville VFW #9639, Palmyra American Legion #72 and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Surviving are his wife of 69 years Mildred A. (Heberling) Miller; daughters Verna J. (Miller) Case of Davidson, North Carolina and Sheila M., wife of Michael Miller of Tulpehocken Township, Berks County; grandchildren Jefferson M. Case (Lisa), Jordan M. Case, Emilie C. (Miller) Fink (Austin); great grandchildren Virginia Tyler Case, Anna Carson Case, Clayton Elizabeth Case, Corbin Michael Fink and Canaan Austin Fink; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 11:00AM Thursday, February 9, 2017 at his church, 117 North Faith Road, Grantville. Viewings will be held 5:30 – 7:30 PM Wednesday and 10:00 – 11:00 AM Thursday both at the church.  Interment, with military honors, will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Faith United Church of Christ, PO Box 2, Grantville, PA 17028 or PA Wounded Warrior, 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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