Obituary of William V Miller

William Valentine Miller, 86, of Basking Ridge NJ and Huletts Landing NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 9th at his home after a long illness. Born at home in Fairview NJ to Lilian and William Miller. William was one of the last of the "Greatest Generation" by enlisting in the Air Force upon his High School graduation in June 1945 and committed to give his life for his country. He volunteered to be the bottom gunner of the B29 bombers scheduled to fly sorties over Japan in September 1945. The odds of surviving were low but he volunteered anyway. The war ended in August of 1945 and he was discharged. Using the GI Bill, he graduated from Seton Hall University in accounting and became a CPA. He was a Special Agent in the Treasury Department until retiring in 1977. He then took a position as an Investigative Accountant for the NJ State Commission of Investigation until his retirement in June 1988. He met his wife Eleanor through a Catholic singles ski club. Through that club they were also introduced to a beautiful community in Huletts Landing Lake George NY where they purchased their summer home in 1970. William was the rock of his family and was a very quiet, kind man. He was very proud of his three children, Mary Beth Finn and her husband Thomas of Clinton NJ, Stephen Miller of Chatham NJ and John Miller and his wife Catherine of Westfield NJ, and his seven grandchildren Jacklyn, Alyssa, Blaise, Nicole, Austin, Erika and Ian. He is also survived by his wife and best friend Eleanor whom he has been married to for 54 years. The family will receive friends at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge NJ on Friday April 12th between the hours of 2-4, & 6-8. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday April 13th at 10AM at St James Church in Basking Ridge, NJ.