George C. Miller

Obituary George C. Miller Miller, George C. New Scotland – George C. Miller, 82, entered eternal rest on May 1, 2014 in the presence of his family. George was born October 30, 1932, the only child of the late Charles V. and Helen (Ziehm) Miller. He was a graduate of the Bethlehem Central High School and Future Farmers of America program. George was predeceased by his wife of 61 years Kay (Kromp) Miller who passed away on May 19, 2011 and baby Ashley Lynn Mahoney on July 27, 2000. He was the proud father of Wendy (John) Mahoney and Douglas (Mary) Miller, grandfather of Adam Miller (significant other Samantha Squire), Chase Miller, and Kaitlyn Mahoney, beloved Great Grandfather of Gabriella Miller and Jonathan Miller, Cousin of Frank (Terry) Ziehm of Buskirk, and many second cousins who own and operate farms in Washington County. After the passing of his dear wife he became a close friend of Lois Savoie and looked forward to their many phone conversations after his dialysis treatments. At the age of 14 after his grandfather passed away, George became the man of the house and had to run the two family farms one on the corner of Whitehall and New Scotland Road and the other on Krumkill Road in the town of New Scotland. He purchased the first self-propelled John Deere combine in the area and to make payments he took on many custom harvesting jobs for various farmers in a 3 county area around Albany. He was known as a cash crop farmer raising Hereford cows, growing feed corn, and producing hay. In later years while only running the Krumkill Road Farm, George also worked as a bus driver for the Guilderland Central School District for more than 24 years. After he retired from farming full time, George would lend a hand at the Tiashoke (Ziehm) Family Farm in Washington County with their fall harvest. He was a hardworking man and farming was his lifelong passion. His knowledge of agriculture, sense of community, and his work ethic was spread throughout many of his associations and affiliations including: working for GLF delivering feed and spreading lime, local store chairman for Altamont Agway, Noah Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, BPOE lodge #2480, farm spot checks for the ASCS, NYS Farm Bureau, Director of the Bethlehem and New Scotland Community Mutual Insurance Company for 36 years, County Office Committee of the USDA Farm Service Agency, North Bethlehem Fire Department, and was one of the Original Commissioners of Elmwood Park Fire District. The Miller Farm that George ran was given the Half Century Award in 1974 by Cornel Cooperative Extension for support of educational programs in Albany County. George and Kay enjoyed vacationing in the Amish farm country in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, stock car and NASCAR racing. In later years he looked forward to holiday dinners and gatherings at his daughter’s home for quite times and lively conversation about the NASCAR drivers. He also enjoyed going to the annual summer family clam bake at the Tiashoke Farm. George looked forward to having his granddaughter in the morning for sharing breakfast then to put her on the school bus and when she returned in the afternoon for homework, snacks, and card games. The family would like to thank the town of New Scotland Senior Services for their assistance with getting George to and from his dialysis appointments. They would also like to thank Dr. Kevin Costello for administering George’s home care, Dr. Henry Nagel for his kind and compassionate care while at AMC, and the nursing staff at AMC building D floor 4 who cared for George during his stay. And a special thank you to the staff at DCI on Washington Avenue Extension and to Kate at DCI who gave George constant words of encouragement for over the past 15 months. Those who wish may make a contribution in George’s memory to the “Yellow Bus” for seniors, Town of New Scotland 2029 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands, NY, 12159 Relatives and friends are invited to his calling hours 9:30 – 11:00 A.M. Monday May 5, 2014 at Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, Altamont. Interment and a grave side service will be held at 12:00 P.M. at the Albany Rural Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.fredendallfuneralhome.com