Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 29, 2010

A card shower is being held to honor J. R. MILLER [of Mount Ayr] on the occasion of his 90th birthday on August 6.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 12, 2010

The award recognized service in the recipient's town or county and is awarded at the local meal site. The recipient's picture ahnd award narrative will be displayed at the meal site and the recipient's name, town and country become part of the display in the area agency office.

MILLER grew up on a farm just north of Benton, graduating from high school there in 1938. His transportation to school was riding a pony. The school had a little barn nearby where the students could tie their ponies or horses during school hours.

He lived in California and Florida for several years, where he enjoyed raising fruit trees and gardening. He raised orchids in a greenhouse as one of his hobbies. He also volunteered at a meal site in Florida, so he knew how important volunteers are to a meal site operation.

After moving back to the area, MILLER has been a volunteer at the Mount Ayr meal site for many years.

At age 90 (the birthday he celebrated last week), he volunteers to welcome the people, count the money, sweep and mop the dining room floor and take out the trash.

He also delivered meals to the homebound for many years. In the afternoons he visits Clearview Home and assists with bingo.

He is very busy and still enjoys walking, going dancing which he learned in the last two years, keeping his lawn moved and taking care of several fruit trees.

Bernard CRAWFORD, Mount Ayr meal site manager, nominated MILLER for the award. Steve BOLIE, executive director for the Area XIV Agency on Aging, was present at the meal site Friday, Aug. 6 to make the award.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2010