William Gene Miller, Jr. (“Billy”), age 54 of Westminster, MD died of respiratory failure on November 3, 2010 at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Born April 3, 1956 in Weston, West Virginia, he was the son of William G. Miller of Westminster, MD and Carolyn M. Grapes of Romney, West Virginia and stepson of E. Suzan Miller of Westminster, MD.
Billy attended Westminster High School and Francis Scott Key High School. He sustained a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident in October 1972 during his junior year at Francis Scott Key. Billy survived multiple medical crises and hospitalizations over the past 38 years.
Prior to his injury, Billy demonstrated creative interests in magic and illusions, photography, and film-making (two short films completed). He loved exotic animals (especially monkeys), rock music (he played guitar with a band he formed), and travel. Billy visited 48 states, Disneyland, Disney World and most of the National Parks in the U.S. He designed a float for a Halloween parade, constructed a haunted house in the basement of his 1802 home, created a cartoon character named “Charlie,” participated in the New Windsor Players and appeared in their production of “A Christmas Carol,” conceptualized a children’s story entitled “the Licorice Mine,” and raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association carnivals in his back yard.
After his injury, Billy maintained his love of music, especially the Beatles, and enjoyed a vast collection of music, videos, and DVD’s, including scary movies, Disney films, and nature programs. He traveled by accessible van to Disney World, Monkey Jungle, Rainbow Springs, Sea World, Miami Beach and to family reunions in Romney, West Virginia and Hagerstown, MD. Billy attended theatrical productions, including Beatle Mania, Cats, and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He lived in Houston for a year (1982-83) and enjoyed a cowboy’s life, attending rodeos and rooting for bull riders at Gilley’s. Billy was inducted as an honorary member of the Boumi Temple Clowns, celebrated Halloween and Christmas with great delight and enjoyed adaptive bowling, movies and outings to restaurants. He loved spending time with his family listening to stories about his childhood and teen years. Above all, Billy taught lessons to others in perseverance, resiliency and love. He fought the good fight and he finished the race.
Surviving in addition to his parents and stepmother are sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth A. and Fred Gelhaus, sister, Amy M. Miller, brother and sister-in-law, Patrick A. and Dana M. Miller, nieces Carolyn (“Carrie”) Rosebrock, Lauren Rosebrock, Emma Miller, Audrey Miller and Holly Smith, nephew, David William Smith and step-grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth (“Betty”) VanLaningham.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Sylvester and Golda Miller and his maternal grandparents, Edgar and Eulala Grapes, all of Romney, West Virginia.
Billy was especially fortunate to have received extraordinary medical care over the years from an unusually supportive team of home care nurses, including Vicky Hepding, R.N., Karen Griesmyer, R.N., Elaine Carabell R.N,, Juanita Myers, R.N., Donna Lindner, R.N., Eva Coppersmith, R.N., Mark Laird, R.N. (Houston), and Virginia Ruby, R.N., from the respiratory team of Johns Hopkins Home care, from primary care physicians, William O’Rourke, M.D. and Khalil Freiji, M.D., and from the physicians and staff of the medical Intensive Care Unit of Johns Hopkins Hospital, particularly Medical Director, Roy Brower, M.D.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be forwarded to The Fund for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 100 N. Charles Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21201.
A “Celebration of Life” memorial service will be held at Baker Chapel (“Little Baker”), McDaniel College, Westminster, MD on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. A social hour will follow.
Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Westminster, MD.
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Born April 3, 1956 in Weston, West Virginia, he was the son of William G. Miller of Westminster, MD and Carolyn M. Grapes of Romney, West Virginia and stepson of E. Suzan Miller of Westminster, MD.
Billy attended Westminster High School and Francis Scott Key High School. He sustained a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident in October 1972 during his junior year at Francis Scott Key. Billy survived multiple medical crises and hospitalizations over the past 38 years.
Prior to his injury, Billy demonstrated creative interests in magic and illusions, photography, and film-making (two short films completed). He loved exotic animals (especially monkeys), rock music (he played guitar with a band he formed), and travel. Billy visited 48 states, Disneyland, Disney World and most of the National Parks in the U.S. He designed a float for a Halloween parade, constructed a haunted house in the basement of his 1802 home, created a cartoon character named “Charlie,” participated in the New Windsor Players and appeared in their production of “A Christmas Carol,” conceptualized a children’s story entitled “the Licorice Mine,” and raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association carnivals in his back yard.
After his injury, Billy maintained his love of music, especially the Beatles, and enjoyed a vast collection of music, videos, and DVD’s, including scary movies, Disney films, and nature programs. He traveled by accessible van to Disney World, Monkey Jungle, Rainbow Springs, Sea World, Miami Beach and to family reunions in Romney, West Virginia and Hagerstown, MD. Billy attended theatrical productions, including Beatle Mania, Cats, and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He lived in Houston for a year (1982-83) and enjoyed a cowboy’s life, attending rodeos and rooting for bull riders at Gilley’s. Billy was inducted as an honorary member of the Boumi Temple Clowns, celebrated Halloween and Christmas with great delight and enjoyed adaptive bowling, movies and outings to restaurants. He loved spending time with his family listening to stories about his childhood and teen years. Above all, Billy taught lessons to others in perseverance, resiliency and love. He fought the good fight and he finished the race.
Surviving in addition to his parents and stepmother are sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth A. and Fred Gelhaus, sister, Amy M. Miller, brother and sister-in-law, Patrick A. and Dana M. Miller, nieces Carolyn (“Carrie”) Rosebrock, Lauren Rosebrock, Emma Miller, Audrey Miller and Holly Smith, nephew, David William Smith and step-grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth (“Betty”) VanLaningham.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Sylvester and Golda Miller and his maternal grandparents, Edgar and Eulala Grapes, all of Romney, West Virginia.
Billy was especially fortunate to have received extraordinary medical care over the years from an unusually supportive team of home care nurses, including Vicky Hepding, R.N., Karen Griesmyer, R.N., Elaine Carabell R.N,, Juanita Myers, R.N., Donna Lindner, R.N., Eva Coppersmith, R.N., Mark Laird, R.N. (Houston), and Virginia Ruby, R.N., from the respiratory team of Johns Hopkins Home care, from primary care physicians, William O’Rourke, M.D. and Khalil Freiji, M.D., and from the physicians and staff of the medical Intensive Care Unit of Johns Hopkins Hospital, particularly Medical Director, Roy Brower, M.D.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be forwarded to The Fund for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 100 N. Charles Street, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21201.
A “Celebration of Life” memorial service will be held at Baker Chapel (“Little Baker”), McDaniel College, Westminster, MD on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. A social hour will follow.
Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Westminster, MD.