CHINA GROVE — John Lewis Miller Jr., 63, 175 Stirewalt Road, died Thursday (Feb. 1, 2007) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after falling seriously ill in May 2006.

Born Jan. 17, 1944, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Miller was a son of John L. Miller, Baltimore, Md., and Iva Brown Smith, Kannapolis, and his late stepfather, Otis Smith.

A 1962 graduate of South Rowan High School, he served four years in the U.S. Navy and worked 30 years with Norfolk Southern Railway as a first brakeman and engineer and later as an engineer with Amtrak.

He was a member of Blackwelder Park Baptist Church and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Janice R. Miller; sons J. Bradley Miller, China Grove, and Darren L. Miller, Lynchburg, Va.; brother Mark Smith, Kannapolis; sister Kay Kirby, Terrell; stepmother Betty Miller, Baltimore, Md.; and two grandchildren.

A service was held Saturday (Feb. 3, 2007) at Blackwelder Park Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Stan Welch and the Rev. Roger Head. Burial, Greenlawn Cemetery.

Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, was in charge.