Local Painter Abe Miller Remembered for Service and Kindness
Abe A. Miller of Millersburg, known to many as Painter Abe, died December 1, 2025, after a period of declining health. His passing is a loss for Holmes County where his lifelong residency, steady work as a painter, and devotion to family and community left a visible imprint.
Abe A. Miller, 73, a lifelong resident of the Millersburg area, died December 1 at Ohio's Hospice Truman House following a period of declining health. Miller retired after a long career as a painter, and neighbors and family remember him for his kindness, faith and affection for his family and dogs.
Miller is survived by his wife, Darla Miller, three children, Dr. Kevin Miller, Brandon Miller and Alisha Oswald, five grandchildren and several siblings. Funeral services were held December 5 at New Leaf Church, with burial at Westlawn Cemetery in Winesburg. Smith Varns Funeral Home assisted the family, and in lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made to Ohio's Hospice Truman House.
Miller spent his life and career within Holmes County. As a tradesman he contributed to homes and businesses across the area, and his presence was familiar to generations who saw his work on porches, storefronts and community buildings. His family and friends point to his steady presence and personal warmth as defining traits that shaped relationships across town.
The decision to direct memorial contributions to Ohio's Hospice Truman House underscores the role local hospice care plays for families in Holmes County. The facility provided care at the end of Miller's life, and the family request highlights community reliance on local health and support services during aging and serious illness.
For neighbors and community groups that knew Miller through church activities and day to day interactions, his passing is a moment to reflect on the informal civic ties that bind rural communities. His life as a working tradesman, church member and family man illustrates the ways everyday labor and personal faith contribute to the social fabric of Millersburg and Winesburg.
Smith Varns Funeral Home is handling final arrangements for the family. The community can honor Miller by observing the family request for donations to Ohio's Hospice Truman House and by recognizing the quiet civic contributions of local residents who sustain Holmes County through work, faith and family life.
