Ira Miller's legacy continues even after final shoebox is packed

He first started packing shoeboxes when he attended a church in Tucker County, West Virginia, where the congregation packed 40 shoeboxes each year. He felt it was important because the shoeboxes can go to places that missionaries cannot.

“We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Dad’s life and legacy touched thousands of friends, far and wide,” his daughter Debbie Welch said. “I never knew him to meet a stranger. He greatly enjoyed meeting new people and making connections with them.”

With Operation Christmas Child Collection Week set to start on Monday, Nov. 13, Welch encouraged others to join in.

“Maybe you have never packed a shoebox,” she said. “Here is a wonderful and easy way to start a ministry and pick up where Dad left off. Eternity is counting on us to share the Good News and Great Joy of the Gospel. His legacy is his story that will outlive him for years to come. Please consider packing one or more shoeboxes in his honor.”

More information and locations can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Miller, who was fondly known as Grandpa Miller, was born on Jan. 27, 1917, in Yoder, Kansas.

The following is from his obituary:

First and foremost, Ira loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He allowed the Lord to use him by serving others. He was a man of faith and a prayer warrior who has left behind an amazing legacy. How can we condense 106 years into a few paragraphs?

Ira was one of 12 children who came from humble beginnings. Ira only had an eighth-grade education because of his need to work on the family farm, where his great work ethic was developed. His skill sets included farming, carpentry, trucking, and masonry, but he was best known for being a beloved bus driver.

During World War II, he helped in the construction of the Skyline Drive in Virginia and was later an orderly at Greystone Hospital in New Jersey, where he met and cared for Norman Rockwell.

Ira’s hobbies included card games, weaving baskets, diamond art, and packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry dear to his heart. Since turning 100, Ira had packed 1,986 OCC shoeboxes. Additionally, he went snowmobiling, ziplining, and rode in a hot air balloon.

He loved spending time with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In December of 1956, Ira and his wife, Mary Olive, along with their three oldest children, Philip, Mary Lou, and Jonathan moved from Delaware to Dry Fork to help with a church plant. They only had $75 in their pockets.

Ira was preceded in death by his 11 siblings; his first wife, Ellen (Swartzendruber); second wife, Mary Olive (Yoder); sons, Philip and Jonathan; as well as sons-in-law, Eric Osborne and Danny Edmands.

He is survived by his children, Mary Lou Edmands of Hagerstown, Debbie (David) Welch of Oakland, David (Susan) Miller of Dry Fork, Keren (Rodney Palmer) Miller of Accident, and Naomi (Sheldon) Martin of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; daughters-in-law, Rose Miller of LaGrange, Indiana, and Michele Miller of Sarasota, Florida; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.