Don Miller

MILLER

Don Wilson Miller, 73, of Westerville, passed away Friday, August 28, 2015. He was in Hospice Care at St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville battling complications from the multiple sclerosis that had been a part of his life since his early 20s. Don is survived by his children Amy (Robb) Shannon of Worthington, OH, Stacy (Michael) Stelling of Denver, CO, and Paul Miller of Columbia, SC; grandchildren Tanner, Sydney, and Olivia Shannon, Lydia and Maiana Stelling, Grayson, Talbert, and Wilson Miller; long-time friend and former wife, Tommie Miller of Westerville, brother Tom (Roberta) Miller of Westerville, sister-in-law, Melinda Miller of Westerville, nephews Jason, Andrew and Brian Miller, and grand-nephew Noah Miller. Known to many as “Bill,” Don was a paper boy, a boy scout, a member of Westerville’s first Little League baseball team, and an avid amateur radio operator (K8CKP). His lifelong love of history and reading biographies began as a young boy. As a student at Westerville High School, he played the snare drum in marching band, was a member of Bi Phy Chem Club, served as president of Hi-Y, and lettered in track among many other activities. Before heading off to college in Oxford, Ohio, Don served in the Westerville Army Reserve Unit. At Miami University, he studied physics and enjoyed his membership in Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. He was recognized as a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honorary fraternity, and a member of Sigma Phi Sigma, physics honorary, while at Miami. Don completed both a B.S. (1964) and M.S. (1966) at Miami before returning to the Columbus area to continue his studies at The Ohio State University. Upon completion of his Masters and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering in 1971, Don joined the faculty at OSU as an assistant Professor. He went on to achieve full Professorship and to serve as the Chair of the Nuclear Engineering Program from 1978-1992 and the Director of the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory at Ohio State. He was involved with the Instrument Society of America (ISA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). His interest in nuclear power plant instrumentation and human interface drove him to become associated with the American Nuclear Society (ANS) in 1980, where he was elected as Fellow in 1991 and served as president 1996-1997. In the 1980s, he also commenced involvement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and was appointed to serve a 4-year term on the NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in 1995. His involvements with the ANS and NRC resulted in many international trips between 1995 and 1999. Don represented both organizations with visits to England, France, Finland, Austria, Norway, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and India. He retired from his Nuclear Engineering Professorship at Ohio State in 2010, but continued to be actively involved in the University as a season ticket holder at Buckeye football games and advisor to many graduate students in his department. During his tenure at OSU, Don was the recipient of the OSU College of Engineering Research Award and recognized as an OSU College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus. Subsequent to his retirement, Don earned the OSU Mechanical Engineering Bertha Lamme Feicht award in 2011 for his many noteworthy contributions to Nuclear Engineering, while overcoming significant obstacles during the span of his career. Don maintained ties to Miami throughout his life, recognized as a Hughes Society OWL (Older Wiser Leader) upon his 50th reunion. A native and long-time resident of Westerville, Don served as a Westerville City Schools’ school board member during the years of 1976-1991, performing duties as President in 1978, ’79, ’86, ’87, and ’88. He was actively involved in Westerville Kiwanis Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Cellar Lumber Company. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Westerville High School. He was a member of the Hoover Sailing Club. He was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Westerville. Don moved to Friendship Village of Columbus in 2002 and took up an active and involved position in his community there – regularly playing cards and bingo, partaking in social events and book clubs, and watching sports and movies with the many friends he found there over the years. Distinguished among his many accolades and accomplishments was Don’s love for his three children and eight grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by his parents Don P. Miller and Rachel Jones Miller, his brother John B. Miller, sister Jean Miller Dahoda. Friends may call at the MORELAND FUNERAL HOME, 55 E. Schrock Road, Westerville Friday 4-7 p.m.. Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5th at First Presbyterian Church, 41 W. College Avenue, Westerville. Rev. Mark Gauen, officiating. Private family graveside service Blendon Central Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to First Presbyterian Church of Westerville.