Otho J. Miller

Dr. Otho J. Miller of Kirkwood, Illinois; passed away at 4:35 pm on Saturday December 28, 2024 at his residence in Legacy Estates of Monmouth, Illinois. Otho was born on July 4, 1924 in Darke County and Bradford, Ohio and is the son of Earl M. and Olive Wagaman Miller, the youngest of three sons. He was reared in Darke County where he attended local schools. He attended Manchester College in Manchester, Indiana, and also worked in Public Service with the Church of the Brethren from 1946 to ’47. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for two years, then returned to his studies and graduated from Ohio State Veterinary School of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio in 1951. Otho opened his practice in Kirkwood, Illinois in 1951, and added the Stronghurst office in 1979. He sold his practice in 1994, but continued to serve his clients part-time for twenty plus years.
Otho married Della Lendon in 1943 and she passed away in 1944. He then married Phyllis Zimmerman Hall, who passed away in 2020. Otho is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, Illinois, the American Veterinarian Medical Association, and the Century Club of Ohio State University. During his retirement years, Otho enjoyed gardening, raising berries, woodworking, traveling, and playing golf with his Gibson Woods golf buddies. He is survived by his son, Bruce Miller and Oleta of Champaign/Urbana, Illinois and daughter Lovena Miller of San Antonio, Texas; his step children, Becky Dennis, Teresa Welch and Jim, and Steve Hall and Nancy. There are five grandchildren, Matthew and Michaela Pittsley, Katya, Dasha and Alona Miller. Also surviving are thirteen step grandchildren, thirty-two step great grandchildren, and eight great great grandchildren. He is preceded in his death by his parents and one grandson.
As were his wishes, Otho is in the care of Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, and will be cremated. A service in his remembrance is planned at 10:00 am at the Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood, Illinois on Saturday January 4th at 10:00 am. His family plans to remain and celebrate his life following the services at the church. Interment of his ashes is planned in the Harris Creek Cemetery in Bradford, Ohio at a later date by his family. In Lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for “Boystown” and may be sent to the funeral home in Monmouth, Illinois.