Ruben "Rex" Miller

Rex Miller, age 102, passed away peacefully July 2, 2025, in Akron, OH. He is survived by loving daughters Debbie (Tim) Prinz (Akron), Mitzi (Howard) Rothman (Solon), his two grandchildren Matthew Rothman (Cleveland) and Jacqueline Rothman (Pankaj) Vashisth (Las Vegas, NV), great grandchildren Jasmine, Indigo and Nitai Vashisth, nephews Gary Haverkamp and Mel Doerr (Chicago) as well as many other beloved nieces and nephews across the US.

Rex was married to the love of his life, Mary (Emshoff) Miller for 67 years until her death in 2020. Rex and Mary met at the University of Nebraska and remained Cornhusker fans their entire lives. Rex was born in 1923 near Sidney, NE where his father was the regional railroad station master. Hiring on at the railroad in his late teens, Rex was rapidly promoted and became the youngest telegraph operator in the company’s history. His mastery of mathematics led him to receive an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Mathematics and membership in the prestigious academic fraternity Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE).

Before attending college Rex enlisted in the US Army in 1942 where he was promoted to Lieutenant and served in the European theater in World War II including the D-Day invasion in Normandy and the liberation of France. After graduating from college Rex joined Goodyear where he held management positions for the next 30 years at the company’s plants in Cumberland MD, Topeka KS, Sydney Australia and New Delhi India. He later worked as a tire specialist and expert witness for Fortune 1000 companies in Peoria and Chicago IL.

Throughout his life Rex was active in the Lutheran Church and served as the Kansas representative for the Lutheran Laymen’s League. During the last 15 years, he was a member at Fairlawn Lutheran Church. Rex was a prolific writer and published a book on investing as well as more than two dozen essays on faith and religion which he donated to the Lutheran Laymen’s League. In his final essay he quoted one of his favorite verses from John 20:31: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life through His name.”

Services will be held at Fairlawn Lutheran Church on SATURDAY July 12 at 11:30 a.m. Friends may visit starting at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial at Northlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Fairlawn Lutheran Church at 3415 W. Market St., Fairlawn, OH 44333. Arrangements by Billow Funeral Homes. The family also wishes to thank the outstanding professionals at Akron City Hospital (Summa) and especially our friend and neighbor, ICU RN, Eric Bryan.

Services in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)