Joseph "Buddy" James Miller

Joseph James (Buddy) Miller Sr. of Jessup, MD, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at Morningside House of Friendship in Hanover, MD at the age of 92. Buddy was born on January 1, 1920 in Jessup, MD to the late John and Annie (Tauber) Miller.

A woman once said to Calvin Coolidge, "I bet my husband I could get you to say more than two words to me." Coolidge is said to have replied, "You lose."

Taking cues from President Coolidge, Buddy was not someone in love with the sound of his own voice, but if you could get him talking, you would end up with stories well worth taking away. Like the time he locked himself in the trunk of his own car ("You know, it was DARK in there."). Or the time he left his car running in the parking lot of Memorial Stadium ("I couldn't figure out why I couldn't find my keys."). His sense of humor was always dry, but satisfying.

Exactly when he joined the Jessup Volunteer Fire Department is shrouded in the mists of time. Some believe he joined at the age of 13 in 1933. Others believe he joined sometime later. All that is known for certain is that he was a member for a long, long time. And everyone agrees that he was the longest serving board member in that fire department.

He began his career as a machinist at the Navy Shipyard in Washington. When those jobs were being cut, he was offered a desk job. He accepted and became a Commodities Management Specialist. He retired from the civil service in 1976.

In 1949 he married Alvera Bendix and brought her to Jessup. You would often find them in the kitchen at the monthly Pancake Breakfast at the Community Hall. You might have seen him riding a lawnmower down the side of the road to cut the grass at that hall.

Buddy and Alvera were members of many duckpin bowling leagues over the years.

Buddy was preceded in death by Alvera in 2011 and is survived by two sons, Albert Miller of Annandale, VA and Joseph Miller, Jr. of North Linthicum, MD; two granddaughters, Alexandra and Maxanna Miller and his sister, Mary (Miller) Cugle of Jessup, MD.

The family will receive friends at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A. 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113 on Monday, February 20, 2012 and Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Saint Lawrence Martyr Church, Route 175 at 2815 Jessup Road, Jessup, MD 20794 on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Meadowridge Memorial Park in Elkridge, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or the Jessup Volunteer Fire Department, 7891 Max Blobs Park Road, Jessup, MD 20794.

Online condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfuneralhome.com