BEDFORD– Paul Felix Miller Jr., a distinguished military veteran whose career spanned nearly four decades and included a close working relationship with President Jimmy Carter, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Stonebridge Health Campus. He was 100 years old.
Born on December 9, 1924, in Bedford’s Miller’s Edition—named after his grandfather’s farm—Miller witnessed the Great Depression firsthand when his family relocated to a family farm when he was five. His remarkable life journey would eventually take him to 36 different states and numerous countries across the globe.
Miller’s military career began in 1943 when he was drafted into the Navy following his graduation from Mitchell High School, where he served as class president. “I was a soldier, not by choice. I was drafted,” Miller recalled in a recent interview with WBIW. “I knew nothing about it but moved up rapidly. I credit most of that to Mitchell High School, the English department.”
His early military service included roles as an instructor at the anti-aircraft center in New Orleans and at separation centers in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Norman, Oklahoma. In 1947, Miller became a Navy recruiter in Bloomington before transferring to the Army National Guard in Bedford, where his career would flourish.
Rising through the ranks, Miller achieved numerous significant positions, including battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry, and chief of training aids and audiovisual at FORSCOM, Fort McPherson, Georgia. His exemplary service led to a unique congressional exception allowing him to serve beyond the standard 30-year retirement requirement.
During his time at Fort McPherson, Miller worked closely with President Jimmy Carter, recently serving as both a military officer and diplomat. “Jimmy Carter was a fine gentleman and a very, very good man,” Miller reflected, noting their shared interest in woodworking and the classes they attended together. “I was treated more as a diplomat than as a soldier.”
After retiring as a full colonel in 1980, Miller established Rainbow Printing, which continues to operate today under his son’s management. He later opened a woodworking shop, crafting gifts for Crane Naval Base to present to members of Congress and other dignitaries.
Miller was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Joyce Green Miller, who passed away on July 3, 2015. He was a devoted member of the First Christian Church and Gillen Post #33 American Legion.
Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24th, in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary, with Pastor Will Brown officiating. Military rites will be accorded by Gillen Post #33 American Legion members. Visitation will begin at 3:00 pm.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Paul’s memory to Camp Bedford.
Miller’s legacy encompasses not only his military service but also his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to craftsmanship. His life story, spanning a century of American history, reflects the remarkable journey of a small-town Indiana native who rose to national prominence while maintaining deep roots in his hometown of Bedford.
Paul Miller was a guest on WBIW’s Talk of the Town on December 17th, 2024. Click the orange play button below to hear that recording.
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