Funeral services were held in the Protection Mennonite church Thursday at 10:30 a.m. on November 18, 1971.Rev. Robert C. Yoder and Rev. Charles Schweltzer officiated. Mrs. Aaron Williams was organist. The Mennonite quartette sang. Pallbearers were Michael Frederick, Stanley Miller, Stephen Miller, Wendell Selzer, David Selzer, and Kenneth Selzer.
Burial was in the Mennonite cemetery.
Obituary Sylvanus Enos Miller, son of Joseph C. Miller and Barbara E. Yoder Miller was born in Lagrange county, Indiana, February 7, 1874 and departed this life November 15, 1971, at the age of 97 years and nine months at the Comanche County Hospital after an eight weeks' illness.
With his parents he moved to McPherson county in 1882. He attended the West Library Mennonite church and Sunday School, was baptized in his early youth and remained a faithful Christian. He attended the public schools of the community and in 1903 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from McPherson College. He taught in public school, both grade and high school for some years and from 1920-1931, he taught at Hesston College where he also served as registrar. In 1918 he was ordained a deacon in the Mennonite church and he also served as District Conference treasurer for 13 years.
In 1907 he married Ursula Miller, daughter of N. E. and Sophronia Hummel Miller at Jet, Okla. They adjourned life together for 64 years. Many of these years were spent on their farm south of Protection until moving to Protection in 1946. Science was his field and he loved gardening and working with nature. Reading was also a hobby especially his Bible and books of history. During his last years of blindness, recordings of the Bible and devotional books were a great source of comfort to him. He and his wife, Ursula, lived contentedly in their home until Ursula's illness in July when he entered the Pioneer Lodge.
His widow survives, also one daughter, Lahla, Mrs. Truman Selzer, one son, Sanford E. Miller, Topeka, Kans.; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; one sister, Selina, Mrs. Roy Zook, Kansas City, Kans.; two brothers, Shelley D. Miller, Inman, Kans.; and Sebastian C. Miller, Elgin, Ill.
He was always kind, respected by all, and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
You Are Not There.
Silently, I stand within the open door,
I pause, and memory rushes in.
I see you plainly sitting in your chair.
I see, I'm sure I see your smile begin
Before you speak to me.
I know so well what words will come tonight.
We speak and plan about the evening meal,
About our day, our work, the sunset bright.
Your eyes, your voice, your face is real.
In anguished memory.
Your chair is empty and your from is gone.
I miss the way you rested in that chair
Or spoke, or laughed, or how you moved your hand
Or how you held your head.
I miss you everywhere.
Except in memory.--Ursula Miller
Also see:
Ursula Miller, wife of S. Enos Miller.
Mennonites In Comanche County, Kansas by Ursula Miller, 1948.
Protection Mennonite Church by Orlin Loucks, 1997.
Mennonite Cemetery, Comanche County, Kansas.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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