Obituary of J.R. Miller
John Richard Miller VII (1/5/1948 – 5/15/2018)
Our beloved husband, father and friend, J.R. Miller, went to be with the Lord on May 15, 2018. Born January 5, 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio, J.R. passed away while on vacation in Sylva, North Carolina. His testimony of living for Jesus was undeniable.
John Richard Miller was 70 years old and a Senior Applications Analyst in the IT department of Aunt Millie’s (Perfection Bakeries) of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He loved his job and the people he worked with. Twice a year he opened his home to the IT team and families to celebrate grilling season and Christmas.
J.R.’s passion was ministry for his Lord Jesus and his focus was reconciliation in the Body of Christ. He served on the board of United in Christ, a ministry which brought together believers of diverse backgrounds. He was the president of Honeytree/WindSong Ministries. He wrote a book called “The Seventh Dimension” to activate Christians into their full potential as citizens of heaven. He was always helping other ministers and missionaries through giving finances, audio and video equipment as well as training them in using the internet to communicate their message.
J.R. served in the United States Navy from 1967 to 1971. He was an electronics mechanic and served aboard the USS Holland in Roda, Spain where he repaired components for nuclear submarines.
A graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in 1984, J.R. was an ordained minister, credentialed by Believers Ministry International.
J.R. married Nancy Honeytree in 1990. The couple traveled to many concerts and mission trips together. Audiences loved to hear him sing with Honeytree on “Up to Something Good” and “I See the Lord.”
Their son, William, was born in 1995. Will also went with his mom and dad to many nations. As Will grew and showed a talent for baseball, J.R. and Nancy yelled encouragements at every game and J.R. was known for his shout, “Let’s Go, Saint Joe!” J.R. was often called upon to be “Mr. Mom” while Nancy went off to Pakistan and other destinations. Nancy credits her love of missions to the influence of J.R., whose gift of hospitality to missionaries opened her heart to sing to the whole world.
J.R. Miller was a genuine believer and follower of Jesus, a faithful husband, a generous and kind father and friend who will be greatly missed. Will and Nancy both remark that they never once heard him say a foul word. J.R. was a brilliant thinker, often talking about spiritual life in terms of physics or dimensions of time. His grasp of how things work in the spirit realm was unique.
The power of J.R.’s personality was a force to be reckoned with. He was determined to live and had many plans to serve the Lord. He dealt with heart disease for years but thrived and lived life to the full. The family is at peace with the way he went to be with Jesus in a beautiful little mountain town, far from cares, and in the company of his best friend Nancy.
J.R. was preceded in death by his parents, John Richard and Norah Miller (Auburn, IN) and his infant son, John Richard Miller VIII. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Honeytree Miller, his son William Joseph Miller, grandchildren Paisyn Grace and Beckham Joseph Miller, and by his sister Dianne (Phil) Geeting of Fort Wayne, IN, and his brothers Ron (Chris) Miller of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Rob (Pat) Miller of Indianapolis, IN, and by nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.
A memorial celebration to honor the life of John Richard Miller VII will be held Tuesday, June 12 at 2 pm, at First Assembly of God, 1400 West Washington Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825.
Contributions in his memory would be received gratefully by Honeytree/WindSong Ministries, in care of First Assembly of God.
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