Rufus S. Miller

Rufus S. Miller, 95, of Mount Joy, formerly of Bainbridge and Elizabethtown, passed on to live forever with his Lord & Savior, on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Lancaster General Hospital after a brief illness. He was a loyal husband to Ruth M. (Heisey) Miller of Mount Joy. They celebrated 74 years of marriage this past Sunday February 26th. Born in Manheim, he was the son of the late Harrison and Edna (Shearer) Miller. In his early adult years, Rufus was a feed salesman for the Grubb & Breneman Co. of Elizabethtown. In 1950 he and his family moved to the family farm near Bainbridge where he started and developed his own hatchery business for many years. Later on he sold insurance for the Christian Mutual Life Ins. Co, after which he purchased and ran the Fertrell Natural Development Co. in Bainbridge. During that time at the age of 70, Rufus purchased a farm near Bainbridge and built his own dairy herd. Over the years, Rufus was heavily involved in various church ministries including Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and song leader at Stevens Hill Community Church of the Brethren, and then as an adult Sunday School teacher at Mt. Calvary Church, both of Elizabethtown. For many years he was a member of the Gideon's International, speaking in many churches on their behalf. Rufus also served on the Board of Directors of Lancaster Bible College for 3 years. Surviving in addition to his wife Ruth is a daughter Carol A. wife of Edwin Landis of Mount Joy; a son Kenneth L. husband of Brandy (Schleeh) Miller of Solvang, CA; two granddaughters Jodi L. wife of David Kerlin, Jenny L. wife of Chris Wawrzyniak; two great grandchildren Tiffany and Wyatt; a brother Paul Miller of Linglestown; and a sister Dorothy Miller of Palmyra. He was preceded in death by four sisters Rhoda Miller Saylor, Helen Miller Gebhard, Kathryn Miller Kuntz, and Florence Miller Royer. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service at Heilig Funeral Home, 21 W. Main St. Mount Joy PA on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. Interment will be in Bainbridge Cemetery. There will be a public viewing on Saturday at the funeral home from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service. If desired, contributions in Rufus' memory may be sent to Lancaster Bible College, Scholarshare Fund, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601.