David Lee Miller was born in Bryn Mawr, PA on October 29, 1928 to Fred Merle Miller and Fay Claycomb Miller.  He had two older brothers, Fred and John.

He graduated from Lower Marion High School where he was President of the National Honor Society, played the clarinet and caddied at a golf course as a summer job.  He went on to attend Lafayette University where he was the cartoonist for the school paper, The Lafayette and on the Dean's List.  Through the influence of a college professor, he accepted Christ and felt called to missions. The course of his life was set and he never wavered. He changed his major from engineering to philosophy and graduated in 1950.

He moved from Pennsylvania to Southern California where he earned an M. DIV from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1953.  In a church youth group in Pasadena Dave fell in love with a UCLA nursing student who shared his heart for missions, Glenda McCauley.

After graduating from Fuller, Dave served from 1953-56 as an U.S. Army Chaplain for the Ft. Lee VA hospital and later in Alaska for Company Headquarters, 53rd Infantry Regiment.  In Alaska he had a Weimaraner named Mack who rode shotgun with him in his Jeep to the amusement of the soldiers.  David and Glenda were married on Dec 18, 1954 and Glenda joined Dave in Anchorage for what would become 66 shared years of family, service, and a legacy that lives on through the lives of the many people they touched.

When Dave completed his army service, he moved with Glenda to Louisville, KY where he earned a Th.M from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and their daughter Nancy was born.

From Louisville the Millers moved  to Shouns, TN where Dave pastored the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for 4 years.  Dave and Glenda formed lifelong friendships during this time and they both enjoyed learning about rural life. Both son, Paul and daughter, Marjorie were born in TN.

In 1961 the Millers boarded an ocean liner with 3 children under 5 years old bound for Brazil where they would serve as missionaries for the next 31 years.  They studied Portuguese in Campinas before moving to Guaranhuns and then 7 years later to Recife. Dave was the Executive Secretary of the Pernambuco Baptist State Convention of 165 churches and was instrumental in uniting the two Baptist Conventions. Dave's passion was for evangelism and church planting.

In 1975 Dave began work on his Doctorate of Ministry from Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX.  He completed his dissertation while he was in Recife, mailing chapters back to his professors.

For 16 years, Dave served in various roles at the 700 student North Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary in Recife. Prior to serving as president from 1985-1989, he served as a professor as well as director of Theological Education by Extension, Post-graduate Studies and the Doctoral Program. Dave made a point to learn every seminary student's name, keeping files of 3x5 cards to review. He cared deeply about the student's personal and financial struggles, finding help and solutions where possible. In retirement, he kept in touch with, and prayed daily for, many former students.

After his retirement, Dave worked with New Hope First Baptist Church in Cedar Park, TX and Hillcrest Baptist Church in Austin, TX.  He enjoyed planning mission trips to Brazil, teaching Sunday School, planning evening services for seniors and faithfully visiting nursing homes, hospitals and homebound members.  He also worked in prison ministry, counseling inmates.

Dave loved fishing and boats of all kinds.  He was a baseball fan who enjoyed good food and believed dessert was an essential food group.  Dave was generous to a fault.  He kept detailed prayer journals in his tiny handwriting that he went through daily. Chances are if you knew him he was praying for you.  He was genuinely interested in people and their stories. He believed that liquid nails, duct tape or super glue could repair almost anything.  He thought Christmas lights should be colored, not white and preferably blinking.  He was his 3 grandchildren's greatest champion. He never missed a soccer game, swim meet or volleyball match and kept careful notes of scores and times. Dave's priorities were clear; faith, family and friends. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He lived well and we thank God for his life.

Dave is survived by his wife Glenda Miller; children Nancy (Wes) Johnson, Paul Miller and Marjorie (Hélio) Paranaguá; grandchildren Lucas Paranaguá, Alex Paranaguá and Tory Paranaguá; in-laws Norma McCauley and Michael (Nan) McCauley; nieces and nephews Peter (Barb) Miller, Jeff Miller, Linda Miller-Schaff, Susan Miller and the many missionary kids who he loved as family.

In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to one of the following; Community First! Village, Hospice Austin or Prison Fellowship.