Robert John Miller, 52, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at home surrounded by his family. Born in Panama City, Florida on April 18, 1963 to Robert and Alice Miller he began a journey which would take him all over the world.
His world tour began early, spending some of his childhood in Holland. Robert pre-enlisted into the military at the age of 17, while still in his junior year of high school in Niceville, Florida. Due to Rob’s love of Jules Vern’s novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, he chose to work on submarines in the U.S. Navy.
He worked as a nuclear power machinist mate, with his first boat being the USS La Jolla (SSN 701), a fast attack submarine, homeported out of San Diego, CA. Rob was his brother’s (Ken) best man when he married his high school sweetheart, Lana P. Rob always felt Lana was like a sister to him, not only a sister in law.
His second boat was the USS Nevada (SSBN 733), an Ohio class submarine, stationed in Bangor, WA. While on the NEVADA, Rob had the honor and joy of serving with his brother Ken for three years. Rob was also blessed with a son, Robert Edward on May 17, 1986. After Rob’s time on the NEVADA, he was given a shore duty assignment in Ft. Walton Beach, FL as a Navy Recruiter. Rob loved telling people about the Navy. When the Hunt for Red October came out, Rob set up a booth outside the theater to show people about submarines and the Silent Service.
While on shore duty, Rob started taking classes at Troy State University. Rob was taking a Statistics class at the same time as Dee’s dad. Her dad came home one night and said “there is this kid in class doing a crossword puzzle and answering the math question in his head.” My second day in class and I see this very tall man, dark hair and the bluest eyes in his Navy uniform. This is the start of the love between Rob and Dee. We married in February 1992.
In July 1992, we moved to Groton, CT, where Rob served on his third and final boat, USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740), another Ohio class submarine.
Rob and Dee brought three children into the world John Cody, born June 12 1995, whom later passed June 23 1995 of SIDS; Katherine Denine “KaDee”, born November 24, 1996; and Jacob Cooper, born June 1, 1998. In 2009 Rob welcomed his new daughter in law into the Miller family. His greatest joy was making them laugh and his greatest trait was his unwavering calm and supportiveness. He lived by the words to George Strait’s song, “A Fathers Love is a Love without end, Amen.” He was the rock of his family, with unending patience and wisdom. In his honor, his family will strive to carry on his legacy, by embodying his love for those around him and unwavering loyalty.
After leaving the Navy, Rob experienced a culture shock in his first civilian job working for a Target at a distribution center in Staunton, VA. After a year with Target, Rob accepted a job with Johnson Controls in Pensacola, FL, where we lived for about five years. Our final move was to be to the state of Texas. Honestly, TX was the last state we ever thought we would live. As a child he would tell stories about driving cross country in a VW square back in the middle of summer, with no AC. The state is big any way, and being a kid it seemed like the drive across would never end.
We did move and we are glad we did. We reside in Friendswood, TX. Rob finally found his work family with Graco Mechanical. He believed he had a great team on the Service side. Kermit, Jim and Antoinette helped him see his direction for the future. In 2014, Rob was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that develops in the connective tissues in the body, such as muscles. Generally, found in children in their first five years, with only about 350 cases diagnosed annually. Rob was very up front with everyone, from work to the staff at MD Anderson, “I will continue to work, I have a job to do and a family to support.”
The core of Rob’s life has always been family. Rob always was incredibly intelligent and witty, with diverse interests and hobbies. When not spending time with his family, he could be found reading books in his office and listening to music. As KaDee got older and into more complicated math, such as algebra and calculus, he dearly loved this time shared with his daughter discussing math problems. He loved showing/sharing new things and how things worked with Cooper. He loved to see the kids’ faces when something clicked and they understood something new or they worked out a problem on their own.
His quick wit is likely the first thing someone would notice about him. On the other hand, if you came to him with the weight of the world on your shoulders, a simple “everything would be alright” from him was enough to wash away any troubles. To his family and friends, he was a pillar in their lives. His humor, wisdom, and support will be greatly missed. Rob enriched the lives of everyone around him and it is because of that they will be strong and continue to grow and spread that impact to those around them.
He will be greatly missed as my husband, my best friend, a brother, a father, a mentor, and a role model.
Rob is survived by his loving wife Dee, Son and Daughter in law Robert E. and Nicole (Nici) , Daughter Katherine Denine (KaDee) , Son Jacob Cooper, Brother and Sister in Law Ken and Lana Miller, Parents Robert and Alice Miller, Mother in Law Jeri Gowdy, Brother in Law and wife Clay and Tina Gowdy, and Nephews Trey and Keane Gowdy.