Elsie Miller, of Stone Ridge Retirement Village, of Myerstown, PA, died peacefully on Monday, May 25.
She was the daughter of William “Bill” and Minnie Kintzer and spent her early years on the family farm in Stouchburg, PA. Elsie met and fell in love with her one-and-only love, William “Bill” Miller, and waited for him when he was drafted during World War II, including the 14 months he was held as a prisoner of war. They finally married when he returned home at the end of the war, when his camp was liberated.
Nothing made her happier or prouder than her family. She is survived by her children, Donna Girvin, wife of the late Thomas Girvin, of Lititz, PA, and William “Buster” Miller, husband of Anita Miller, of Myerstown, PA; grandchildren, Carrie Poore (Phineas), Mandy Lutz (Brian), Kelly Gehman, and Ashley May (Ron); and six great-grandchildren.
Elsie had an incredible work ethic. She grew up working on the family farm for many years. She helped with the animals and other children and worked at Marco Electric Company until retirement age. After retirement, Elsie worked as a custodian at Neptune Fire Company. She worked with her husband, Bill, for Ray Schlaseman, catering at the Neptune Fire Company for Ladies Auxiliary events. Elsie proudly worked until she was 94 for Ray Schlasemen at the Eagles Hall in Lebanon, PA, cooking and catering.
She was a lifelong member of St. John’s Host Church, of Bernville, PA. Elsie loved her country and enjoyed volunteering with several organizations whose efforts benefit those who served or are serving. The VFW of Myerstown awarded her with a lifetime membership in thanks for her volunteer efforts. Volunteering was very important to Elsie throughout her life. She volunteered at the Neptune Fire Company, the Carnival Grounds in Richland, PA, and as a den leader in Cub Scouts, just to name a few.
Elsie was fearless and enjoyed going, seeing, and doing. You name it — she would just get up and go. She enjoyed traveling, bingo, playing cards, circle-a-word, casinos, scratch off tickets, sharing the love she had to give by cooking and baking things like opera fudge, cookies, and pies, and many of her Pennsylvania Dutch delicacies with those around her, the color purple, Alfred Dunner, animals — from her young days of growing up on the farm to later in life, the family pets, and visiting with friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings, Katherine Hamm, May Heilig, Sarah Keibach, Allen Kintzer, Paul Kintzer, and Louis Kintzer.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Grose Funeral Home, 358 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, preceded by a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Myerstown VFW, 410 W. Main Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067, or the Neptune Fire Company, P.O. Box 29, Richland, PA 17087.
