Gerald "Jerry" Wolff Miller

Gerald “Jerry” Wolff Miller was born in Denver, CO on Friday, July 3, 1931, to Rose Lee (Weiss) Miller and Lawrence Miller. He passed away peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2023, just two weeks after celebrating his 92nd birthday. He had an older sister Henrietta (Miller) Talpers and a younger sister Sue (Miller) Deutser. He was extremely close with his parents and sisters, whom he adored. He loved Denver where he lived his entire childhood and early adult life. Jerry graduated from East High School in Denver, CO. He graduated college from the University of Colorado and also attended Tulane University. He was an active member of the ZBT fraternity at both schools. He then attended law school at the University of Denver. After college, Jerry served in the U.S. Air Force at the Lowry Air Force base in Denver, CO. Jerry married Julia Lewis at her parent’s home in Indianola, MS. They started their married life together in Denver and had two sons, Scott Lewis Miller and Geoffrey Lewis Miller. Jerry worked with his father in the family furniture business. When he was offered an executive position in the Lewis family wholesale grocery business, they relocated to Indianola. When he left that business, he bought the local Sunflower Food Store in Indianola and led the store’s growth from the number three market share store in the area to the number one share and recognition as the flagship store of the Sunflower grocery chain. He was farsighted in implementing new technology and ideas. He had business acumen, and a mutual respect existed between him and his employees, vendors, and customers. Jerry’s passion was golf. He grew up playing golf at Green Gables Country Club in Denver and was captain of his high school golf team. He won the golf championship at Lowry Air Force base while stationed there. He was very successful on the golf course and even defeated a peer who went on to become a professional golfer. He also enjoyed golf in Mississippi where he competed for championships at the Indianola Country Club. He moved to Houston in his mid-adult life where he lived for almost 30 years. He and Julia divorced but remained close throughout the years. He continued frequent golf games at Westwood Country Club for as long as he could play. His sense of humor was infectious, and he loved nothing more than a great social outing with friends. He made friends easily, was outgoing, and was the life of a party. He was popular, smart, and handsome. He possessed a kind soul. He loved to travel and especially enjoyed the trips with Scott and Geoffrey to Las Vegas where he loved to play blackjack and craps as well as their many golf adventures together around the U.S. and Canada. He also was an avid supporter of the cultural arts and had season tickets to the Houston Ballet and Houston Symphony. He was Jewish and his faith was important to him. One of his favorite trips was to Israel. He also enjoyed attending AIPAC events in Washington, DC and in Houston. He grew up as a member of several synagogues in Denver and was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. The family is grateful to Jerry’s Houston caregivers, Marilyn Williams and Adriana Blinstubas, for their loyal care and friendship. Jerry spent the last three years of his life living in San Antonio near Geoffrey. The highlight of each day was Geoffrey’s visit and the frequent visits from his granddaughter Olivia. He is preceded in death by his parents Rose Lee (Weiss) Miller and Lawrence Miller, his sister Henrietta (Miller) Talpers, brother-in-law Robert Talpers, and several aunts and uncles. Jerry leaves behind to cherish his memory his sons Scott and his wife Julie and Geoffrey and his wife Kathy. His beloved grandchildren are Madelyn Ilana Miller, Landon Reid Miller, Jillian Faith Miller, Olivia Miller Tibbetts and her husband Austin, and Blake Lewis Miller. His one great grandchild is Jackson Lewis Tibbetts. Jerry was adored by everyone and will be greatly missed. A memorial service with a reception to follow will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Rd. Dallas, Texas 75225 with Rabbi Debra Robbins and Cantor Leslie Niren officiating. A graveside service will follow at a later date at his burial site near his parents in Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in Gerald’s name to: Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas - https://jfsdallas.org/donate/ The Institute of Southern Jewish Life - https://www.isjl.org/donate.html The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience - https://msje.org

Gerald "Jerry" Wolff Miller

July 3, 1931 - July 17, 2023