Lewis “Chet” Miller, 79, died May 7, 2008 at the Kettering Memorial Hospital in Kettering, Ohio. He was born on May 25, 1928 in Marshall, Ohio.

He graduated from Marshall High School and received a B.S. in education from Wilmington College and his master and doctorate degrees in educational administration from Miami University.

He was a Nationwide insurance adjustor for two years.

He served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1950-1952 during the Korean War.

He was a coach and teacher at Reesville, Mowrystown, and Buford High Schools.

He was a superintendent at Belfast, Hardin Northern, and Clermont Northeastern County schools and at the Great Oaks Vocational School.

He was founding president of Southern State Community College from 1971-1988.

After his retirement he wrote The History of Southern State Community College 1975-2002.

He and his family bought and operated the Seven Caves from 1980-2005.

He was a member of the Bainbridge Lodge 196 Free and Accepted Masons, a 32 degree Mason having membership with the Ross County Shrine Club of Chillicothe, the Hillsboro Elks, and the American Legion.

He had served on the Bainbridge City Council and was a member of the United Methodist Church where he served as head of the administrative council.

He was preceded in death by parents, Clarence and Ruth Henry Miller; son, Thomas Darbyshire Miller; sister, Nina Miller Garvey; brothers-in-law, William Darbyshire, William Garvey, and George Abell; and nephew, Benjamin Darbyshire.

He is survived by wife, Cherry Darbyshire Miller; sons, David and William Miller; granddaughter, Tiara Hudson; sister, Cinderella Miller Abell; nieces, Mary Abell Cicero and Elizabeth (Bill) Darbyshire Weidman; and nephews, Michael (Sara) and Carlon (Lora) Darbyshire, and Roger, James (Jenny), and John (Sandy) Abell.

Visitation and memorial services were held May 17 at the Bainbridge United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Bainbridge United Methodist Church, PO Box 528, Bainbridge, Ohio, 45612.

The Smith-Moore Funeral Home in Bainbridge is serving the needs of the family.