Martha Laverne Eminhizer Miller, 92, passed away peacefully at her home in Madisonburg, under hospice care, on July 21, 2013.
Martha was born March 28, 1921, in Tusseyville, a daughter of the late Paul and Edna Mae Ishler Eminhizer. At the age of five she went to live with an elderly couple in Boalsburg after her mother passed away from complications of childbirth. Her father died of tetanus five years later. She graduated from Boalsburg High School in May,1939. As a young woman she worked as a waitress at the Eutaw House in Potter's Mills and later met her future husband while both were employed at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College. On April 29, 1942 she married Randell E. Miller, of Madisonburg, who passed away on June 30, 2003.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by four sisters, Mary Alice Eminhizer, Hilda Phillippi, Helen Miller, and Jennie Mae Johnson; and one brother, William Eminhizer. Martha is survived by her son and only child, Ronald D. Miller of Madisonburg, a brother-in-law, Donald W. Miller of Burtonsville, MD, 6 nieces, 10 nephews, long-time high school friend and classmate Marie Bloom of Boalsburg, plus many other friends and distant relatives.
She was a part-time publishing assistant at the Millheim Journal newspaper in Millheim from 1948 to 1955 and an office assistant at the Hosterman & Stover hardware store, also in Millheim, from 1950 to 1971. Martha was a member of the Christ United Church of Christ in Madisonburg since the early 1940's and active in the community of Madisonburg. She loved gardening, flowers, Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Solitaire; enjoyed entertaining neighborhood children, and arranged the church flowers for many years. She was a fifty year member of the East Penn's Valley Woman's Club, worked as a volunteer at Laurelton Village, the senior citizen center in Brush Valley and the snack bar at the Mt. Nittany Medical Center, and was affiliated with the Girl Scouts during the 1960's. She was also a member of the Aaronsburg and Spring Mills Patriotic Order of America until it disbanded. Above all else she was a homemaker and loving mother. She will be missed by all who have known her.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 from 10 – 11 am at the Christ United Church of Christ in Madisonburg. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 am with Rev. Julie Holm officiating. Martha will be laid to rest in the UCC and Lutheran Cemetery in Madisonburg. Contributions in memory of Martha may be given to Centre Homecare/Centre Crossings, 2437 Commercial Blvd, Ste. 6, State College, Pa. 16801-7454 or to Christ United Church of Christ, c/o Lois Miller, Po Box 124, Madisonburg, Pa. 16852.