Columbus, OH — Robert “Bob” Miller, 90, died in his home May 24, 2020.

The youngest of six children, and the only son, he took over his father’s fledgling horse and tractor business when he was just 21 years old. His brother-in-law Fred Hagerman joined him in the venture. The same year, he married the love of his life, Alverna Ward, and moved up the street to live, just a stone’s throw from the Robert Miller Company.

Life became increasingly difficult for Mr. Miller as he was already an alcoholic and became very dependent on alcohol. When he was 33 years old, he took his last drink, attended AA and turned his attention to his business, his family and race horses, eventually owning a few of Vernon Downs’ record-breaking Standardbreds.

He and Alverna built the Robert Miller Co. over the next 40 years, joyfully servicing many of the farmers within a 40-mile radius. He sold the company in 1991 and became a collector of fine glass, antique lamps, and Shaker furniture. Later, he and Alverna created The Beehive, a consignment shop where many antique collectors displayed and sold their antiques to the general public. After the Beehive closed, he continued to broker valuable antique lamps for the next 20 years.

A confirmed atheist until the age of 52, Mr. Miller came to know Christ personally on June 19, 1981. That day, he gave his life to Jesus Christ and never looked back. A few years later, he and Alverna and two other couples from the area established the Cohocton Assembly of God, where he worshiped until the day the Lord took him home to his eternal reward. One of his favorite past times was talking about the Bible and his savior Jesus to whoever would climb in his truck, which he called “his office.”

Mr. Miller is survived by his wife, Alverna; children, Luanne (Cliff) Domm, Robbie, Marcia (Ray) Soja, Vicki (Francisco “Paco”) Garza and George (Laurie); grandchildren, Bob Domm, Tammy Foote, Michelle Anderson, Stephen Soja, Gregory Soja, Katelyn Soja, Geoffrey Soja, Elisa Kammeyer, Jessica Hallancia, David Garza, John Garza, Daniel Garza and Michael; great-grandchildren, Meagan Philipson, Brittany Kuka, Raven Foote, Tyler Domm, Ryan Domm, Josephine Soja , Natalie Soja, Hope Soja, Michael Soja, Deacon Hallancia, Madeline Hallancia, Elaina Hallancia, Jadon Hallancia, Jordan Kammeyer, Eden Kammeyer, Leah Kammeyer, Judah Kammeyer, Lauren Kammeyer, Gideon Garza, Makara Garza, Giselle Garza, Evelyn Garza, Rebecca Garza, Anika Garza, Beverly Garza, and Johnny Garza; and great-great-grandchildren, Ava DeBoo and Kyran Kuka. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Annette and Garfield; sisters, Anna, Dorothy, Alice, Martha, and Polly; grandchild, Francisco “Paquito” Garza; and great-grandchildren, Calsea Foote and Faith Soja.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cohocton Assembly of God Church, P.O. Box 92, Cohocton, NY 14826, Care First, 3805 Meads Creek Rd., Painted Post, NY 14870 or to the Visiting Nursing Association, 650 Airborne Parkway, Cheektowaga, NY 14225.

The family requests that those whose lives have been touched by Mr. Miller send a personal note of your memory to Cohocton Assembly of God to be included in a Memory Book at his Celebration. Be sure to include your name.

Mr. Miller’s immediate family will have a private viewing and a celebration of life will take place later in the year. Interment will be at Clearview Cemetery in North Cohocton.