Paul E Miller *
Paul was born on October 12, 1954 in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania to Marie and Forrest “Frosty” Miller. The oldest of three children, he was raised surrounded by extended family on a farm in rural Maryland, property that has now been in family ownership for more than 150 years.
Paul was an animated storyteller who often recalled the stories of his youth, celebrating the natural landscape that provided the backdrop for a childhood without “fences” and honoring the colorful characters who shaped his rich and rewarding life.
As a youth, he attended Route 40 Elementary in Garrett County, Maryland and Valley High School in neighboring Allegany County. No stranger to hard work, Paul spent his summers loading and delivering vegetables for a local wholesale produce distributor and doing park maintenance at New Germany State Park.
Paul was a 1974 graduate of the Forest Technology program at Allegany Community College, a degree that opened the door for a 43-year career with Westvaco-MeadWestvaco-WestRock, and brought together a close circle of friends who have gathered annually for fifty years. These loving friends included Guy Carola, Dave (Barb) Hohman, Ed (Barb) Iames, Stuart (Patty) Stone, Doug (Paula) Curtis, Mike (Marty) Blake, all from MD, and Bill (Barb) Derr of FL.
Paul’s career with Westvaco began on a survey crew in Rupert, West Virginia. Following in his coal mining Grandpap’s footsteps, he soon transitioned to the company’s minerals program, ultimately overseeing mining leases on three million acres of company-owned land. In 2006, he and Tammy moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina where he continued his work in mineral leases and assumed responsibility for the company’s Rural Land Sales program. He retired in 2018.
Paul was an avid outdoorsman who was equally comfortable navigating the tides of Rantowles Creek or hunting a trophy buck on his tree farm. Sharing his passion for the outdoors with extended family and close friends brought him great joy. Whether casting a line for a tailing redfish or sipping his favorite drink under the glow of a setting sun, Paul savored peaceful moments with the ones he loved.
Paul attended Sauldam Baptist Church of Charleston, SC where he found peace along this journey. He was blessed to be a part of a loving and faithful church, and loved by his dedicated pastors, Jeremy Simmons, and Al Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Marie Miller of Avilton, MD; sisters and brothers-in laws Judy Lukin of IL, Donna (Bruno) Kromelis of Michigan, Randy Skeens, and Roger (JoAnn) Williamson of WV.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy, of Ravenel, SC; daughter, Paula (Ryan) Lambert of NC; stepchildren Angela (Mark) Collier, Derek Lewis of WV; grandchildren Ethan McCallister, Mason Lambert, Olivia and Abigail Collier; brother, Benny (Kathy) Miller; sister, Lisa (Allan) Shockey; nieces, Katie and Madison Shockey, Adam and Mark Miller of MD, Emily (Darryl) Huffman of WV; great nephew Noah Huffman of WV; brothers and sisters-in-law Jean Childers, Sharon Skeens, Debbie (Billy) Russell, and David Williamson, all of West Virginia and Vinko Lukin of Illinois.
Special friends: Jennifer (William) Howard of SC, Mark (Dawn) Resh, of MD, John (Tammi) Woodrum, Charlie Green, Frank Groves, Danny Abston, Wesley Johnson, Kirby Funderburke, Randall Johnson, all from WV.
Services will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston, SC, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be the following Saturday, March 1 in Grantsville, MD.