Archie Miller, M.D. (I ’59)

Archie Miller, M.D.

Dr. Archie W. Miller, aged 91, passed away in his Arcadia home surrounded by his family on June 6, 2016.

Archie was born on November 20, 1924 and grew up in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. He was the only son of Archibald William Miller and Florence Boyle Miller. He received a scholarship to play football at Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania. As soon as he turned 18, Archie left college to join the U.S. Army Air Forces. In February 1945, he was stationed on the Pacific island of Tinian as a navigator on a B-29. His 35th and final mission was a reconnaissance mission for the Enola Gay. He attained the rank of first lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves during the 1950s.

After the war, Archie attended Penn State College where he met and, in 1949, married Lois M. Miller, his wife of over 66 years. He belonged to the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Archie earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1952 from the Medical College of Virginia. He earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1956, graduating cum laude. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in July 1960.

Archie and Lois moved to Arcadia in August 1960 with their young children. Archie joined the well-established private medical practice in Pasadena of Drs. Paul I. Hoagland and George S. Hjelte. He was board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and had staff privileges at the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. He retired in 1996.

Archie’s passions were his family and his home. He was a fan of Penn State football, the Dodgers, and the classic Yankee teams. He also enjoyed rock collecting, skiing, and fly fishing. He loved to read non-fiction. He learned how to fly fish at the Pasadena Fly Fishing Club and enjoyed tying flies. In his later years, he developed an appreciation for wine. He was a member of the University Club of Pasadena and lunched there frequently during his working years. He was a parishioner of Saint Rita in Sierra Madre for over five decades.

Archie enjoyed travelling around the western states with his family. He and Lois travelled internationally, visiting Europe, Africa and Asia.

He is survived by his wife Lois, daughter Kris (Marc Fisher) of Goleta, sons Arch of Arcadia, Thomas (Kimberly) of Calabasas, Michael of Arcadia, and Robert of Washington, D.C., and grandsons Tommy, Max and Grant.

A Catholic mass was held at St. Joseph Chapel at Santa Teresita in Duarte and a private Catholic memorial service was held at his home for his family and friends. During his memorial service, a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol Building was flown over his home.

Donations may be made in his name to a charity of your choice or to the National Parkinson Foundation: 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, Florida 33131.