Alan Miller was a reporter, writer and editor who believed that everyone has a story that needs to be told. He also believed that most everyone he ever met - and that was darn near everyone in Marion and Grant County - was well intentioned.
He departed from journalism and his 34-year career at the Chronicle-Tribune in Marion in 1995 to become public relations spokesman for Indiana Wesleyan University and, thus, launched another 22-year career. During those years, he also served three terms as a member of the Marion City Council.
He was overwhelmed by sudden illness early last week and died at 1:30 pm on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He was 82 years old.
A Marion native, William Alan Miller was the son of a Sutter Dairy delivery man and was born on April 12, 1942, and reared in west Marion. He and his parents, William and Lavonne (Muchmore) Miller, moved to Sweetser about 1958, and he graduated from Oak Hill High School. He went on to Indiana University, where he majored in journalism. He returned to his hometown and went to work as a reporter for the Marion Chronicle in 1964. The Marion Chronicle and the Leader-Tribune newspapers merged into the Chronicle-Tribune in 1970.
He and Patricia A. Murray were married on August 22, 1965. She survives.
Except for a brief period in the late 1960s when he left the newspaper to head up Opportunity Industries, the forerunner of Carey Services, he reported on life large and small in Marion for the next 30 years. That did not diminish his interest in either civic or church-related activities. He served on several non-profit boards, including several years as president of the Family Service Society board of directors. He and Patricia were active in College Wesleyan Church.
A colleague observed that he never saw Miller become angry or come to work unhappy.
He participated in coverage of tornadoes, teacher strikes, racial unrest, violent crime, local government malfeasance and the hundreds of smaller stories that make up the content of a local newspaper.
He once wrote a feature story about a child with a terminal illness. He began his story with this memorable sentence: “When you go to bed tonight, say a little prayer for Jenny.”
During the great blizzard of 1978, Miller and colleagues shared sleeping space on the newsroom floor for two nights. Telephones continued to ring through the night hours and Miller insisted on answering each call, mainly from angry subscribers whose newspaper delivery had been slowed by the storm.
While his first love was reporting and writing - and he continued to do both in his years at IWU - he took on management roles at the Chronicle-Tribune, first as City Editor and later as Editor of the newspaper for nearly a decade. On his watch, the newspaper was twice recognized by the Hoosier State Press Association as the best daily newspaper in Indiana.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, are their daughter, Jennifer Lynne (Kevin) O'Sullivan of New Haven, CT; grandsons, Matthew Newcomer and Mitchell Newcomer; granddaughter, Madison Newcomer; great-grandson, Ben; step-grandsons, Miles O'Sullivan, Jared O'Sullivan, and Colin O'Sullivan; and great-granddaughter, Addy.
The family will receive visitors from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at College Wesleyan Church, 200 E. 38th St., Marion, IN.
Immediately following the time of visitation, a service to celebrate Alan's life will begin at 1:00 pm with Emily Vermilya officiating. Burial will take place at Grant Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Gilead Ministries, 212 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN 46952.
Arrangements are entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William, please visit our floral store.
