Obituary of Philip Miller

Philip (Phil) Miller died on May 17, 2011 at his home in Sunrise Florida with his devoted wife Shirley at his side. Phil was born on July 19, 1915 in New York City, the son of Yetta and Isaac Miller. When he was a young child the family moved to Loch Sheldrake where his brothers Sam and Sol and sister Betty were born. As a young boy Phil worked in the family hotel. He served in the United States Army stateside during World War II training officers to put pontoon bridges together for river crossings. Phil married Alice Laufman in 1949 and had two children, Stephen and Ivan. After Alice's death in 1982 he married Shirley Stausmire in 1985. He had one grandson, Ben Miller who he was extremely proud of. Phil was a self-made businessman who owned a succession of successful businesses throughout his life. His first business was Miller Ice and Coal and he retired from III Guys Concrete, a business his son Stephen owned. He also owned Phil Miller Construction, Luzon Ready Mix Concrete Corporation, Town Sanitation and Miller Paving. He was also a partner of M&N Explosives and M&N Construction. Phil loved Sullivan County and had many lifelong friends there who he greatly enjoyed being with. He was a member of the Loch Sheldrake Fire Department and a Fire Commissioner for 50 years. He was also a member of Congregation Anschei Hurleyville. In his later years Phil and Shirley moved to Sunrise Florida where they appreciated many happy years until a few months before his death. He is survived by his wife Shirley who took loving care of him at home during his illness, his son Stephen and daughter in law Susan, his son Ivan, daughter in law Kay and grandson Ben, his brothers Sol Miller and Sam Miller, his nephew Michael Goldstein, and stepson Robert Stausmire & his wife Julie and their children Zachary Brock and Kari Lynn. He was predeceased by his first wife Alice and his sister Betty Miller. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 19th at 11:45am at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home on 388 Broadway, Monticello, New York 12701. Burial will follow at the Hurleyville Synagogue Cemetery. The family will then be sitting Shiva at the home of Susan and Stephen Miller in Woodridge. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at the Vitas Hospice who helped Shirley with Phil's care during his illness. Donations in Phil's memory may be made to Vitas Charitable Fund, 5420 Northwest 33rd Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 or to the Sullivan ARC Foundation, Guardianship Fund, 162 East Broadway, Monticello, NY 12701. Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home of Monticello. For additional information please visit www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com