Roy Arnold Miller, Jr.

Roy Arnold Miller, Jr., 78, passed away at his Marengo, IN home on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He was surrounded by his four daughters. Roy was preceded by his parents Roy, Sr. and Veronda (Veteto) Miller and his wife of 56 years, Saundra J. Miller. He is survived by his daughters, Dawn Snyder (Greg), Shannon Oakley (Eric), Jennifer Hawthorne (Scot), and Dr. Victoria Miller Bennett (John).

He took great pride in his grandchildren, Sara Gryboski (fiancé, Jacob Lorusso), Joe Gryboski, Elsa Luffman (Kalen), Ethan Oakley (Krystal), Faith Oakley, Cameron Hawthorne, Samuel Hawthorne, Jacob Bennett, and Brooke Bennett. Each grandchild held a unique place in Roy's heart, and they will each cherish the bond they shared with their Pop(py). Roy embraced the joy of being promoted to great-Pop Pop when Emersyn Oakley joined the family. Roy shared a special connection with his brother, Hobart Miller (Carolyn).

Roy graduated from Butler High School (Louisville). He married Saundra soon after. In 1976, they moved with their daughters to Southern Indiana. Together they built a home and a life in the country. Roy instilled many values including the love of family and tradition. He taught his daughters they could achieve anything if you worked hard enough and lived with honesty and integrity. His daughters will continue to embody the principles he most cherished.

Roy was a proud, lifelong member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. A true pillar of the trade, he was a 50-year Gold Card member of Local 175 (formerly Local 64). He took immense pride in his half-century of service and the enduring 'brotherhood' he shared with his fellow craftsmen. As a Superintendent, he led numerous large-scale projects throughout Louisville and the surrounding area. A specialist in massive concrete structures, he loved the challenge of 'means and methods' required to bring a blueprint to life. His fingerprints can be found on several of the city's landmarks, including Humana’s Witherspoon Garage, the original polar bear exhibit at the Louisville Zoo, the UPS Hangar, and Atria. He also oversaw significant projects for UL, UK and Hanover College. He took great pride in his years with Sullivan & Cozart before his retirement. Even then, he never truly hung up his tool belt, keeping his skills sharp by helping friends and family with various projects.

Roy enjoyed being outdoors and using “Big John”, his John Deere tractor. If the sun was up, so was he. He would often say, “daylight’s wasting” or “off and on”, meaning off your rear and on your feet. He loved golf and spent hours playing over the years. He was an avid reader and self-proclaimed news junkie. He enjoyed politics and debate. He adamantly refused to believe everything he heard or read. He taught all his daughters to think for themselves and to ask questions. He continued the tradition by engaging his grandchildren in healthy debate, genuinely curious about their thoughts and experiences.

He was intensely patriotic and flew an American flag in his front yard every day. His pride and devotion to the United States likely began with his father, who was a United States Marine in WWII. His devotion and pride grew over the years, and exponentially when his grandson, Cameron, attended and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. First Lieutenant Cameron Hawthorne is a pilot in the United States Air Force.

He loved attending his grandchildren’s events including marching band, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, scouts and more. He had an extensive collection of T-shirts and hats representing all their schools, teams and groups. He shared stories about his grandchildren with anyone who would listen or happen to ask about a shirt or hat he wore.

He cherished his 60-year friendship with Joe Figg. They became friends when they began dating their wives, Saundra and Carol, and together the four of them formed a lifelong bond. From the mountains of Gatlinburg to the sands of the Gulf Coast, they shared countless vacations and memories. Both couples navigated life together, each raising four daughters and supporting one another through every milestone. Joe and Roy had many of their own adventures, most of which are not fit to print. The only arguments they had were figuring out who to blame for the good-natured havoc they wreaked. They shared a love of laughter and family; Joe truly considered Roy his “brother from another mother.”

Roy was the recipient of a life-saving kidney donated by his son-in-law, Scot. Roy took exceptional care of this precious gift and earned the respect and admiration of the entire Trager Transplant team. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the many hands that cared for him, especially Dr. Raj and his nurse, Jenny, for their dedicated care and friendship.

Roy lived fully, worked hard, and loved deeply. His legacy of integrity, curiosity and devotion will continue to inspire his family and all who were fortunate to share in his life. The loss of Roy will be deeply felt by family and friends alike.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, 3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany, from 12-6pm. Visitation will also be from 9-11 am on Monday, January 19th followed by a service at the funeral home at 11 am on Monday, January 19th, with burial to follow at St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Roy’s memory to Kim’s Dream, a fund supporting local transplant patients and their families through the Trager Transplant Center. Contributions may be made online at give.uoflhealthfoundation.org/in-memory/miller.