Miller, S. Paul (1916-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Jan 10 p. 3

Birth date: 1916 Apr 1

text of obituary:

Longtime missionary to India dies at 88 in Goshen

By Mennonite Mission Network

GOSHEN, Ind. — S. Paul Miller, who served in India for more than 40 years with Mennonite Board of Missions, died Dec. 22 at Greencroft Healthcare. He was 88.

Miller served from 1941 to 1983 in various roles, including pastor, teacher, farmer and administrator of leprosy clinics and building projects. During his retirement, he returned to India 14 times to direct building projects for Dhamtari Christian Hospital and Menno Clinic.

"S. Paul would be on any list of great and exceptionally successful North American Mennonite mission workers of his generation," said Ron Yoder, former MBM director of international ministries and now president and chief executive officer of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.

"The good news S. Paul believed and shared was a comprehensive gospel of justice and peace, salvation, discipleship and social service. He could preach, teach and act effectively and decisively in all four areas."

Miller was born April 1, 1916, in Garden City, Mo., to Joseph A. and Lydia (Schrock) Miller. He married Vesta A. Nafziger on Aug. 27, 1941, in Bombay, India. She died July 28, 1998.

Vesta had arrived in India in 1938 and was serving as manager of the primary school in Balodgahan. Eventually, the Millers were appointed to work at the Sankra Evangelical Station.

In Sankra, the Millers organized relief work. Many local people were unemployed and starving because of a famine.

In the late 1980s, the Millers supervised the expansion of Dhamtari Christian Hospital.

Miller had lived in Goshen since 1983 and was a member of College Mennonite Church.

Surviving are two daughters, Elaine Haines of Amherst, N.Y., and Eleanor Miller of Strasbourg, France; a son, James A. of Shipshewana; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Katherine Schrock of Phoenix, and Mary Eleanor Kochsmeier of Bethlehem, Pa. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Norman and J. Emerson.

Services were held Jan. 4 at College Mennonite Church in Goshen and Jan. 5 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio. Burial was in Pettisville, Ohio.