John A. Miller, 85, of Dunkirk, Indiana, passed away at home on the morning of Jan. 8, 2021, after battling dementia.

He was born the son of Kenneth Miller and Evalyn Shirley Miller on Feb. 19, 1935, in Muncie, Indiana. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1953 in Randolph County. In 1955, he married his school sweetheart Judy Thornburg and they had two sons.

John spent most of his life in the petroleum business. He started with Farm Bureau Co-Op and then spent six months in U.S. Army reserve training. He ran a service station for several years and then moved to Dunkirk in 1969 where he continued in the petroleum business with Miller Oil Company until retirement. He said his therapy was doing yard work and gardening.

John was master of the Farmland Masons where he received his 50-year pin. He was on the board of directors of The First State Bank and Indiana Oil Marketers, and also a member of the Dunkirk Elks and American Legion. He was a member of the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church.

John spent summers coaching little league and enjoyed boating and camping with his family. He was a member of The Happy Cruisers club. A fun pastime was playing cards with friends and family. But his real passion in life was flying. He earned his pilot license and went on to get his instrument rating.

Survivors are his wife Judy; son Gary (Kriss) of Kansas City, Missouri; brother Jack Miller (Sandra) of Knox; and his sister Ledajean Flory (Lloyd) of Edinburgh; six grandchildren, Ashley Miller of Kansas City, Missouri, Abbi Robinson of Austin, Texas, Hawkin Miller of Kansas City, Missouri, Alicia Miller of Madison and Brockton and Logan Miller of Hartford City; and five great-grandchildren, Taylor and Shelby Brown of Redkey, Iko Miller of Kansas City, Missouri, Wilhelmena Robinson of Austin, Texas, and Ryker Miller of Madison.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jim Miller; and son Greg (Christine) as of 2019.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana, with Pastor Randy Davis officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to MJS Mortuaries.