John Frederick Miller and his wife of 70 years, Jessie Mae Rader Miller, passed away within days of one another. Mr. Miller died Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, and Mrs. Miller followed on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013.

Their love for one another was well known and they were often seen holding hands. They had been residents of Lake Placid for over 25 years, coming from Mansfield, Ohio. They were charter members of Diamond Hills Baptist Church in Mansfield and members of First Baptist Church of Lake Placid, serving as deacons and in numerous capacities in both churches. Family was most important to them as well as their volunteer activities at church and in the community. Mr. Miller volunteered as a leader for the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years and Mrs. Miller was a Den Mother to Cub Scout Troop #152 in Lexington, Ohio, and a classroom aide in Lake Placid.

Mr. Miller was born Nov. 20, 1921, to the late Peter John Miller and Esther (Breece) Miller Lamp in Lexington, Ohio. He developed a strong work ethic as a child working on the family farm, Miller’s Dairy. He was employed in maintenance at the Mansfield Tire Company and then at Therm-O-Disc. He was a member of the Mansfield Tire 25-year Club. Mr. Miller was a combat veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the European Theatre during WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of the Purple Heart Association and was instrumental in the dedication of U.S. 27 as a “Purple Heart Highway.” He was a volunteer chaplain at Florida Hospital, Lake Placid, for many years.

Mrs. Miller was born May 4, 1925, to the late Jerry Rader and Kathern Ewing Rader in Latonia, Kentucky. She was a “Rosie the Riveter” at Tappan Corp. during WWII, a cafeteria worker at Lexington local schools and worked in the Disc Department at Thermo-O-Disc.

A celebration of their lives will be Thursday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lake Placid.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Lake Placid, Hope Ministries, 119 E. Royal Palm Street, Lake Placid, FL 33852.

Arrangements were entrusted to Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home, Sebring.