Robert Kenneth Miller, age 80 years, of Flemington Borough, NJ, died peacefully on Friday, June 30, 2023, at Capital Health System-Fuld Campus, Trenton, NJ, surrounded by his loving family after a traumatic fall.

Born on November 4, 1942, at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, NJ, son of the late Kenneth William Miller and Hazel Mae Anderson Miller, Bobby spent the first six months of his life on Elwood Avenue in Flemington Borough, NJ, and then moved to the home his father built at 22 New Jersey Avenue, also in Flemington, where he has resided ever since.

Though he lived in the same home his entire life, Bobby’s life journey can best be described by the poet Robert Frost when he wrote, “Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood. And I, took the less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

The life journey of this son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend to everyone is one that is simple to tell as it is based on humor, compassion, and love…yet difficult because how can mere words capture the spirit that is Bobby Miller?

To know him was to know that his eyes and his smile immediately told you that you were his friend, even if you just met. A jovial storyteller, Bobby was a master at communicating his feelings and made sure that everyone in his orbit knew how much he appreciated them.

A “constant” in the lives of every generation of his family, Bobby learned a hard lesson about what family really meant with the passing of his father when he was only fourteen years of age. An only child, Bobby immediately got several jobs to help his mother with the household expenses. From working at Finks Meat Market and the Nevius Bros. store, Bobby worked hard to help make ends meet.  This event, though tragic, would change Bobby’s relationship with Hazel; going forward, there was no more devoted and loving mother-son relationship than the two of them. This relationship would continue with Bobby faithfully and diligently looking after Hazel right up until she took her last earthly breath to be reunited with his Dad.

The spirit of gratitude and appreciation for life that filled a young teenage Bobby was surely what grounded his heart when, during the first day of his senior year at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, he would spy a freshman, Ms. Donna Marie Higgins, walking down the hall. She too would notice him, and it was not long after that the pair would become inseparable.

A true old-fashioned love story, Donna and Bobby would happily recall that they were lucky enough to find their soulmate that first day of class in 1959. Married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Whitehouse, NJ, on March 14, 1964, they credited their almost sixty years of marriage with always being there for one another, respecting one another, and remembering to laugh. Anyone who knew the couple would tell you that you never said the name Bobby without saying Donna or vice-versa. No matter what life threw at them, they always followed the path based on love, and it truly made all the difference.

Their union gave them two sons, Kenneth and Christian, who were the light of their dad’s eyes. He was there for them through everything, with sage advice and a hug when needed. Working shift work at Eastern Airlines when they were younger, he always managed to never miss a baseball game or anything else they were involved in, and to this day, the boys still do not know how he made it happen.

His boys gave him a new level of love Bobby never thought possible with the births of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. True to Bobby form, he never missed any event they kids were involved in and was and will always be their biggest fan and cheerleader.

Graduating from Hunterdon Central in1960, he would immediately enlist in the United States Navy, being honorable discharged in 1963 after surviving two plane crashes during his service time. He would then go to work for Eastern Airlines, rising the ranks to become Supervisor of Air Cargo at Newark Airport. When Eastern closed, he would reinvent himself and open Phoenix Cleaning Services, which he owned and operated for more than twenty-five years. This would be followed by a ten-year stint working for the State of New Jersey in the Central Fee Office in Hunterdon County. At all his jobs, he was known for his hard-work, integrity, and the ability to make everyone smile.

A die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan, Bobby enjoyed fishing for trout on any lake where he could relax with a glass of scotch and see his family making memories. He also enjoyed collecting post-war Lionel Trains and Banjo Clocks, working on cars, bowling, and watching Nascar, especially when Tony Stewart would win.

The last few years were difficult physically for Bobby, as he faced and beat both prostate and lung cancer. Throughout it all though, the love of Donna and his family helped guide Bobby down the path that at times seemed dark and unforgiving, but would, with their love, always be alright.

To honor Bobby is to remember that no matter where the path of life takes you, if your spirit is grounded in love and humility, and if you live life appreciating life, then the light will always appear and guide you home safely.

Surviving, in addition to his wife and best friend Donna, are his two sons, Kenneth Miller and his wife, Hope Miller, who Bobby thought of as his daughter, and Christian Miller; his adored grandchildren and their spouses, Leonard and Melanie Gilbert, Taylor Gilbert and her fiancé, J.R. Nast, Madison and Luis Rosa, Aubrey and Niki Phillips, Cecilia Miller, Gabriel Miller, and Deacon Miller; his cherished great grandchildren, Ellie, Leo, and Christianna Gilbert, Leah-Faith, Levi, Juliette, and Miller Robert Rosa, Liam Nast, and one great grandchild that is due at the end of July to Aubrey and Niki; his devoted niece and her husband, Catherine and Marco Chiesa; his great nephew and great niece, Anthony and his wife, Carolina Chiesa and Cinzia Chiesa; several extended family members; and many, many dear friends.

Bobby will lie in repose on Thursday, July 6, 2023, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., as well as on Friday, July 7, 2023, from 10:00-10:30 a.m., all in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome. If you are unable to attend but would like any words read on your behalf, please click HERE to send an email to the funeral home.

Burial near his cherished parents with military honors will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 69 Capner Street, Flemington, NJ, and again, all are welcome.

You are encouraged to visit Bobby’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund being set up at Hunterdon Central High School in Bobby’s name and honor. Please make checks payable to the “Robert K. Miller Scholarship for the Arts” and send to the funeral home, c/o 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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