Hayden M. Miller

Hayden M. Miller, age 101, Huntington’s oldest World War II veteran, died at 2:10 a.m. Wednesday (April 13, 2016) at Oakbrook Village in Huntington. Visitation will be from 3 - 7 p.m. Monday (April 18, 2016) at Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, Indiana. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (April 19, 2016) at Bailey-Love Mortuary with Rev. Worlie Newsome officiating. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service. Burial will be in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Huntington with military graveside rites performed by VFW Post #2689 of Huntington. Preferred memorials are to Gideons International, in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, Indiana, 46750. Hayden was born on October 2, 1914 in Huntington County, Indiana, the son of Clarence H. and Ethel (Reiger) Miller. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1933 and served in the United States Army during World War II, inducted April 12, 1941 from his hometown of Huntington. He was assigned to the combat engineers and joined the 113th Combat Engineer Battalion. He served honorably in the Pacific Theater until his discharge on November 10, 1945. He saw his first action in the Southern Philippines in the Battle of Leyte where in October of 1944, General Douglas McArthur waded ashore and proclaimed, “I have returned.” From there, Hayden advanced in the effort to reclaim the Philippines. The 113th advances to the Battle of Luzon, which included the Battle of Zig Zag Pass, the capture of Bataan and Corregidor. With the Philippines mostly secure, his unit was sent to New Guinea, where he earned his third Battle Star. As a result of his service, he earned the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars, The American Theater Ribbon, The American Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, and the Good Conduct Medal. He married Berniece VanDine on May 29, 1943 in Alexandria, Louisiana, and she preceded him in death on September 18, 1993. He retired from Lock and Chain in Huntington after 20 years of service and then worked at Orton Crane in Huntington. Hayden was a lifetime member of VFW Post #2689 in Huntington and a 75-year member of First Baptist Church in Huntington, where he served as a deacon for over 50 years. At 98 years old, he participated in Honor Flight, and in 2014, he was the Huntington County Veterans’ Day Parade Grand Marshall. He loved fishing, gardening, riding his bike, and spending time with his family. Survivors include a son - David (Joyce) Miller of Huntington; three daughters - Linda (Dennis) Brumbaugh and Lois (Richard) Yarger, both of Huntington, and Sharon (Charles) Abrell of Greensburg; two sisters - Irene Nichols of Columbia City and Mary Catherine Boyd of Huntington; a sister-in-law - Delores Miller of Huntington; several nieces and nephews; 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, six brothers - Marion Miller, Homer Miller, Max Miller, Sylvester Miller, Leo Miller, and Cleo Miller, and three sisters - Martha Bridgewater, Maxine Miller, and Inez Miller.

Hayden M. Miller

October 2, 1914 - April 13, 2016