Family and friends bid farewell to life-time Tooele resident Orrin P. Miller.
He died Friday, November 8, 1991, following a massive stroke. Born November 14, 1908 in Lincoln/Pine Canyon, Utah. O. P. was the oldest child of Olaf Anders Peder Miller and Hilda Hansen Miller. He graduated from Tooele High School in 1926 and attended Utah State University for two years. In 1932 he married Grantsville resident, Amy Anderson in the Salt LakeLDS Temple and established his own residence
in Tooele.
He was the father of two children, Marilyn Miller Zaitzeff and Paul Miller. Orrin worked for 31 years at the Tooele Army Depot and retired as management analyst of the Management Engineering Division in June of 1973.
Orrin spent a life-time in service to various clubs and civic organizations. As a devoted outdoorsman he was a long-time member of the National, Utah and Tooele County Wildlife Federations where he served in many offices, including president of the Tooele County Chapter. He was honored by the Tooele County Wildlife Federation in 1989 as "Sportsman of the Year", in 1966 he was presented with the "Wildlife Conservation Award Trophy" by the Governor and the Utah and National Wildlife Federation for outstanding contribution to the wise use and management of the nation's national resources.
He was a member of the Sierra Club, the Elks Fraternal Organization, the Oregon and California Trails Association and served a chairman of the Tooele County Wildlife and Range Survey committee. In 1977 he was presented with an award from the Tooele Bit and Spur Club for a life-time devoted to wild life conservation and preservation of a western outdoor way of life.
A dedicated historian, Orrin was a life/charter member of the Settlement Canyon Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, where he had served as vice president of tours and excursions. In 1989 and 1990 Orrin and his wife, Amy, where given the "Distinguished Couple Award" by the National Sons of Utah Pioneers for their work in preserving Utah State history. Orrin and Amy raised funds to replace several vandalized Pony Express Trail Markers. Orrin was a charter member of the Tooele County Historical Preservation Committee. He founded and was president of the Tooele County Historical Society, through which he and his wife published two volumes of Tooele County history. Orrin was also instrumental in the establishment of the Tooele County Railroad Museum. Additionally, Orrin contributed several articles of historical significance to the Tooele Transcript/Bulletin.
In addition to his outdoors and historical involvement Orrin was one-time vice president of the Tooele Garden Club. A delegate to the Utah State Democratic Convention in 1990 and 1991 and was a member of the Common Cause Political Action Organization. At the time of his death, Orrin was actively engaged in a project to build a road to Black Rock Cave above Kennecott and establish a visitor center there.
O.P. is a self-described organizer, gardener, tour guide, trail boss, geologist, inventor,
historian and poet. His contributions to the out-door conservation and Utah history will be greatly missed.
Orrin was preceded in death by his wife, Amy. He is survived by his children, Marilyn Miller
Zaitzeff and Owen Paul Miller; his sisters, Meisa Miller Seeley and June Miller Smith and his brother-in-law, Warren Rollins; his grandchildren, David Zaitzeff, Cherri Miller, Kimberly Zaitzeff
Tovar, Todd Zaitzeff, Lisa Miller Dillon and Amy Jo Miller; five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m.
Thursday, November 14, 1991 at the Tooele Utah Stake Center, 253 South 2nd East. Interment: Tooele City Cemetery. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening, November 13, from 6-8 p.m. at the Tate Mortuary, 110 South Main in Tooele. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Settlement Canyon Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers.
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