Margaret Miller

Margaret J. Miller, 98, died August 30, 2017. She was born January 5, 1919, in Coffeyville, KS, the daughter of Merritt E. and Florence M. Thompson. The family moved to Independence, KS, in 1927 where Margaret graduated from high school in 1936, as valedictorian of her class and a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from Independence Junior College in 1938 as a member of the debate team which won a state contest. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, KS, in 1940. She could not have attended college without the support of the National Youth Administration. This agency, created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, funded a campus work program at 25 cents per hour. She taught in Thayer, KS, High School and later in the Wichita public schools and Wichita State University, and she earned a master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1964.
In 1941, she married Paul A. Miller. She is survived by her husband of nearly 76 years and children Timothy, Michael, Gretchen and Jeffrey, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Virginia Jones, of Neodesha, KS.
She was active in many volunteer activities, including after-school tutoring, Braille transcription, environmental causes, consumer advocacy, and the Wichita Public Library. She worked for four years on the AARP State Legislative Committee on consumer issues. She and her friend Margaret Bangs worked with the Kansas Legislature to get consumer representation in the utility rate-making process. The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB) was established in 1985; it is still operating and saving utility customers significant amounts of money. Recycling efforts have been recognized by Kansas governors, other public officials and the National Geographic in 1995. The PRoKS/Miller Recycling Center at 725 E. Clark, Wichita, was named to honor her.
A memorial gathering will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, September 5, in the Auditorium of the Wichita Public Library, 223 S. Main.
Memorial contributions to the Wichita Public Library Foundation, 223 S. Main, Wichita; the Margaret J. Miller Scholarship at Pittsburg State University Foundation, 401 E. Ford, Pittsburg, KS; or the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita.

Memorial Service

Time: 1:00pm, Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Place: Wichita Public Library
223 S. Main, Wichita, KS 67202

Private Burial

Place: El Paso Cemetery
700 E. Kay, Derby, KS 67037

Memorials

Wichita Public Library Foundation
223 S. Main
Wichita, KS 67202

The Margaret J. Miller Scholarship
c/o Pittsburg State University Foundation
401 E. Ford
Pittsburg, KS 66762

Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice
313 S. Market St.
Wichita, KS 67202

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