Father Joseph Robert Stanford Miller

also known as Robert Miller, passed away on December 6, 2015 in Seattle, WA. He was 94 years old.He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Aly Miller, sons Karl Miller of Los Angeles, CA, and Paul Miller (Karen), of Columbus, OH, daughter Anne Strandoo (Robert) of Seattle, niece Katherine Aly Stavrinou, of Drammen, Norway, and adored grandchildren Robert, Genny, Erik, Claire and Grace. Father Joseph was born Robert Stanford Miller on June 21, 1921 in Independence, KS to Charles Marvin and Hattie Paul Miller. He grew up in Topeka, KS surrounded by a large extended family. He graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka in 1939, and went on to attend Kansas State Teacher's College in Pittsburg, KS, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in music education in 1943. The same year, he enlisted in the Army Organized Reserve Corps, and spent the next three years as a radio technician, servicing military aircraft. After his discharge from the Army, Robert began work as a music teacher in Eureka, KS, and spent several summers studying vocal performance at the Julliard School in New York City. He later returned to school at the University of Kansas, where he received a Master of Arts in educational psychology in 1954, and a PhD in Education in 1959.Robert married Barbara Aly in Columbia, MO on June 2, 1955. The couple moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1956, where Robert worked at the University of California, Los Angeles in the student counseling center, then to Pullman, WA in 1958, where he held a similar position at Washington State University. While living in Pullman, Robert and Barbara welcomed their three children, first Karl, followed by Paul and Anne. The family moved to Ellensburg, WA in 1966, where Robert worked for the next eighteen years at Central Washington University until his retirement in 1984. During his years at CWU, Robert was director of the student counseling center, then Dean of Students, before returning to work at both the counseling center and the testing and evaluation center. He and Barbara moved to Indianola, WA in 1990, then to Bainbridge Island in 1996, where they lived until 2014, when they relocated to the Ida Culver House - Ravenna in Seattle, WA.Robert had a profound, lifelong calling to the Christian faith, beginning his spiritual life as a child in the Methodist Church, converting to Catholicism in his twenties, and finally to the Orthodox Christian faith in 1973, at which time he took the Christian name of Joseph. With the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Greece, Father Joseph was ordained to the Priesthood, at eighty years of age, by the retired Metropolitan (then Archbishop) of Etna. He was assigned as assistant pastor at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Port Townsend, WA, where he served for some seven years, prior to the closing of the parish.Fr. Joseph was amazingly unique; a true Renaissance man who was curious about nearly everything and had so many interests in his life - music, photography, sports (he was very pleased to see the Seahawks win the Superbowl!), gardening, cooking, science, computers, HAM radios, trains, boats, animals of all kinds (but especially dogs), travel, foreign cultures, languages, politics, and world affairs. Even with all of these many ventures, Father Joseph's life was most marked by his compassion for humanity and steadfast dedication to his faith, his family and his friends. Dad, you were extraordinarily special. Your unfailing love and support for each of us was and will always be an immeasurable gift.The family extends our deepest thanks to the compassionate and skilled staff at Ida Culver House - Ravenna and Group Health Hospice.Funeral services have been held, arrangements provided by Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island, WA. Please sign the online Guest Book for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northwest Harvest or a charity of your choice.