Walter J. Miller

Walter J. Miller, 92, of Taylor, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, January 21, 2024.

He was born on February 14, 1931 in Alice, Texas to Walter and Erna (Frosch) Miller.  He grew up on a farm with his younger brother and sister.  He graduated from William Adams High School in Alice in 1948 and attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, TX, earning a BA degree in 1952.  He was called to the ministry while in college and attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa graduating with a Master of Divinity Degree in June 1956.

He married Mary Evelyn Wietstruck on June 17, 1956, at Zion Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2023.   He started his ministry at Grace Lutheran Church in Eagle Lake, Tx in 1956, moving to First Lutheran Church in Galveston in 1960.   They moved to St. John Lutheran Church in Thorndale in February 1963, and he was pastor there for 30 years.   Walter was a Naval Reserve Chaplain, serving from 1955 - 1981, when he retired as a commander.  He also enjoyed sports and was an announcer at Thorndale JV and junior high football games and track meets.

In 1993, they moved to Giddings where he was the associate pastor at Martin Luther Lutheran Church for five years.   He retired, for the first time in February 1998 and moved to Taylor, where he was visitation pastor for St. Paul Lutheran, Taylor, and pastor for Zion Lutheran in Sandoval until 2018, when he fully retired.

Pastor Miller received many honors and held many positions in the American Lutheran Church and at Texas Lutheran, including Chairman of the ALC Southern District and Texas Lutheran College Alumni Board President. In 2020, he was named Pastor Emeritus of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

Walter is preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Paula Miller, his sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Vic Swanson, and brother-in-law, Bill Wietstruck and wife Ruth Ann.

Walter is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Evelyn Miller; children, daughter, Debbie and husband, George Matthys; son Michael and wife Margaret Miller, son John and wife Trisha Miller and by his brother-in-law, James Wietstruck and wife Janice.  He is also survived by 9 grandchildren - Rachel Matthys Smith (Brad); Kelli Matthys Hammon (Jeff); Allyson Matthys (Andrew Barry); Bethany Matthys Lee (Colton); Trey Majors (Robin); Michael Majors (Katie); Jake Miller (Caitlin); Corey Miller (Allyson), Zach Miller (Cameron), 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor, Texas on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 4-6pm.   Walter’s service will be held on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 10:00am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor, Texas and burial to follow at Taylor City Cemetery.  A reception will be held at the church after the burial.

Walter’s family greatly appreciates the wonderful care given to him at the SPJST Memory Care Unit in Taylor, Texas.   We are also thankful for the care and many visits from Pastor George Qualley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the SPJST Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Taylor, Tx; the Alzheimer’s Association; Texas Lutheran University or Wartburg Seminary.