Philip J. Miller

Philip J. Miller Sr., 78, of 10 Taylor St., Apt. D3, Franklin, died at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in the Presbyterian Home of Oil City. Born Nov. 23, 1930, in Grove City, he was the son of Earl Miller and Grace White Miller. He was married March 24, 1984, to the former Fay Sparks, who survives. He was a welder for 26 years at Joy Manufacturing until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Miller was a member of Calvary Temple Church in Oil City. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, especially poker, football and family gatherings. He is survived by the following children: Thomas Miller of New Lebanon, Charles Rode and his wife, Lucy, of Franklin, Debra Bossard and her husband, Burk, of Conneautville, Carla Baker and Connie Bills, both of Oil City, Cynthia Bills of Sherman, Texas, and Christine Irwin and her husband, Timothy, of Cranberry; three grandchildren; 16 stepgrandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by a sister, Edith Strawman of Pittsburgh; and two brothers, Owen Grouley of Pittsburgh and Elmer Grouley of Richmond, Va. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Phillip J. "Dude" Miller and a sister, Jean Elder. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home with Lorraine Sparks of Calvary Temple Church in Oil City officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens. The family requests that memorials may be made to bless someone in need or to the Calvary Temple Church, 14 Harriott Ave., Oil City, 16301. Online condolences may be sent at www.gardinierfuneralhome. com.