Obituary

Edythe Mae Oxendale Miller, 91 of The Woodlands, of Huntington, West Virginia went home to Our Lord from The Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House on Wednesday April 28 following a short illness. She was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia the daughter of the late Reverend Doctor Fred and Bertha Oxendale. In addition to her parents, Edythe was preceded in death by her dear husband William Joseph Miller, where they met at Ninth Avenue United Methodist Church when her father was the pastor. They were married for 57 years. She was also preceded in death by her son William Lewis Miller, and her sister Elizabeth Jean Moore. She is survived by her daughter JoAnne Miller Cyrus and her husband Ronald Lee Cyrus of Culloden, West Virginia, a grandson Christopher William Cyrus and his wife Margaret Elizabeth Cyrus of Proctorville, Ohio, a granddaughter Elizabeth Anne Cyrus and her fiancé Trevor William Madelly of Jacksonville, Florida, a great-grandson Alexander William Cyrus of Proctorville, Ohio. She attended schools in Oak Hill, West Virginia, Milton High School, and graduated from Gassaway High School. Attended Glenville College, graduated from Marshall College, with a Bachelor degree in Sociology.  After graduation, she was employed by the State Department of Human Resources, where she worked as a Social Worker in Wayne County, West Virginia.  After a year of working as a Social Worker she went back to Marshall College to obtain her Bachelor and Masters Degree in Education. During World War II, Edythe was employed by the United States Weather Bureau, at the Lawrence County Airpark Airport in Chesapeake, Ohio. She later pursued her passion of teaching at a One-Room School in Braxton County, West Virginia. She spent the majority of her teaching career at Geneva Kent Elementary teaching sixth grade science. She was known as running a "tight ship" by many of her students. She later retired from the Cabell County Board of Education. She was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church, where she was the Church Librarian since her retirement. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women, Joy Circle, and the Vagabonds. Edythe loved helping others and she showed that by volunteering at Cabell Huntington Hospital for twenty eight years in the gift shop. She was active in many organizations, The National Education Association, West Virginia Education Association, and the Cabell County Education Association. She also enjoyed the friendships that were made by being a member of the Beverly Hills and Huntington General Federation of Women's Club, Alpha Delta Kappa, an International Honorary Education Sorority. She was an avid fan of Marshall University and their sports program. She and her husband would travel to away basketball and football games to cheer on The Herd. Edythe enjoyed spending time with her family and hearing from former students.  She enjoyed family beach trips to Nags Head, North Carolina each summer. She treasured her old and new friends at The Woodlands.  The recent light of her life is her darling great-grandson, Alexander William Cyrus. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Huntington, West Virginia. The Reverend Doctor Paul Russell will be officiating. Burial will follow at White Chapel Memorial Park. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Youth Scholarship Fund of the First United Methodist Church, 1124 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia 25701. Also Marshall University Scholarships in memory of William Joseph and William Lewis Miller; Marshall University Foundation 519 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, West Virginia 25703.