Robert "Rob" B. Miller

Robert Barry Miller, 82, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Olathe Hospice House.

Born on July 23, 1942, in Bernie, Missouri, Robert joined Keith as the second son of Truman and Iris (Felton) Miller. Following short stays in Bernie and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the family moved to Topeka, Kansas, in November 1943. Robert and Keith were joined by sister Sharon in 1944 and then sister Elizabeth (Liz) in 1947. Robert began elementary school at Potwin Elementary in 1947, then attended a one-room schoolhouse, Union School, for 4th grade, then East Indianola for 5th-7th grades. He attended 8th and 9th grades in El Dorado, Kansas, where the family lived for a two-year period (1954-1956) while Truman was helping with construction of the Kansas Turnpike. Robert then attended Seaman Rural High School for his remaining high school years. He was an accomplished cornet player, played in the band, and played in a dance band with a group of other high school musicians. During summers in his high school and college years, Robert worked at Shell Orchards in Grantville, Sommers Seed Company in Topeka, and then Ohse Meats. He graduated from Seaman Rural High School in 1959 having earned the honor of National Merit Scholar. He went on to attend Kansas University, where he received a Bachelor's in Accounting.

Robert married Karen Cool in 1962. They lived down the street from Robert's parents for a number of years. Robert continued to work with Ohse Meats. While living there, their twin sons, Troy Greyson and Todd Gregory, were born September 13, 1965. Robert and Karen divorced in 1970. In 1971, Robert married Mary McDiarmid, who had two daughters by a previous marriage, Kristen and Carrelle. In 1972, Robert accepted a position with Falcon Research in Denver, Colorado. In 1989 they moved to Hollister, California where Robert worked at Whittaker Corporation. In 1997, he began work as a Defense Program Controller for Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), where he worked for 19 years. Robert and Mary were foster parents for many years, adopting two of their foster children, Travis and Krystle. Mary died in 2013 after living many years with cancer.

Robert was fortunate to find love again (through Christian Mingle), marrying Glenda "Cookie" Smith in May 2015. He retired from JPL in 2016, and they enjoyed retirement together. During his life, Robert embraced life with enthusiasm. He had a big heart and an even bigger/louder laugh. He was the ultimate "handyman" and could fix anything he put his mind and hands to. He was a passionate motorcyclist, enjoying rides on his Harley Davidson, a cherished hand-me-down from his brother-in-law. He loved the outdoors, taking his family snow skiing and hiking, and he famously hiked the Grand Canyon four or five times (once promising his 10 year old sons Troy and Todd that there was a pool at the bottom only to find out that the pool had been filled in by a rock slide). A loyal and ardent fan, Rob cheered passionately for the KU Jayhawks and the Denver Broncos. He also poured his dedication into a 20-year project: restoring a 1959 Corvette.

Rob was preceded in death by his parents, Truman and Iris Miller; his brother, Keith Miller; his sister, Sharon Fitzpatrick; his second wife, Mary; and his son, Todd Miller in 1990.

He is survived by his third wife, Cookie; his son, Troy Miller and wife Debbie; his son, Travis Miller; his daughter, Krystle Miller; his step-daughters, Kristen Ratliff and Carrelle DeSimone; his sister, Liz Harvey and husband John; his sister-in-law, Linette Miller; his grandchildren, TJ, Morgan, and Greyson Miller; his step-grandchildren, Tiaja Jones, Jetta Quidachay, Zac and Gage Ratliff, Teagan, Wrigley, and Paden DeSimone; and eleven great step-grandchildren.