HOT SPRINGS — Paul Dewey Miller,

92, passed away in the early morning hours of March 4, 2020. Paul’s passing is a loss for his family, his church, his friends, and our community.

He was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, church leader, businessman, and loyal friend. Most significantly, his passing brings an earthly end to his love affair with Imogene Miller, his wife of 72 years, who survives him.

Paul is the father of three children: Timothy Paul Miller, who passed away in 1954; Karen Norton, widow of the late Thomas Norton, Sr.; and Alan Miller, who is married to Caroline Miller.

Paul had seven grandchildren: Marcie Newberry (Stephen), Sarah Saragusa (Jason), Elisabeth Flowers (Joe Ray), Hayley Pugh (Drew), Rebekah Ball (Nathan), Melissa Bogard (Kyle), and Angela Hibbs (Toby).

He also had 11 great-grandchildren: Asher Newberry, Evan Saragusa, Ethan Saragusa, Hudson Saragusa, Ben Saragusa, Weston Flowers, Hunter Flowers, Winry Pugh, Noah Ball, Miriam Ball, and Hannah Ball.

Paul and Imogene’s family also includes very special relationships with Betty Lou Burrows as well as two foster daughters, Violet Rice and Mary Jane Draper.

Paul graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1945 and was a lifelong resident of the Hot Springs community. He loved to travel, especially to Hawaii. He also had a passion for Razorback football.

Paul’s life embodied a commitment to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He helped establish Lakeshore Heights Baptist Church and remained involved in the church and its work for more than seven decades. Christ also shone through his business dealings. His business contacts knew Paul’s word represented a binding commitment that could be completely trusted.

Paul began his career as a messenger boy with Western Union. He met a lovely young teletype operator while working there — Imogene. Paul thought it was inappropriate to date a woman who outranked him at work, so he quit Western Union and went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. Imogene was impressed. They were married on June 15, 1947 — his twentieth birthday. Imogene insisted on waiting until Paul’s birthday to get married, so it would not appear that he was marrying an older woman.

Before his involvement with Lakeshore Heights, Paul attended Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. There he met Keith Smith, who invited him to join his company, first as an employee and later as a co-owner. In his years with the Keith Smith Company, Paul pioneered the advancement of hatching egg production technology. Paul became a respected national leader in the poultry industry and served as the first President of the Arkansas Poultry Improvement Association. At the request of the United States Department of Agriculture, Paul made significant contributions to the development of the poultry industry in the country of El Salvador.

Visitation will be at Lakeshore Heights Baptist Church, 1420 Lakeshore Drive, Hot Springs, Ark., on Monday, March 9, 2020, from 1-2 p.m.

Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., at Lakeshore Heights. Services will be officiated by Rev. Rick Porter, former pastor at Lakeshore Heights, Rev. Horace Gray, current pastor at Lakeshore Heights, and Rev. J. B. Evans.

Interment will be in Memorial Gardens under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs. Pallbearers are David Miller, Freddy Miller, Wesley Miller, Paul Russell Miller, Stan Miller and Brad Cook. Honorary pallbearers are Ricky Caver, Donna Dingess, Gail Flaig, Jerry Hawkins, Emmett Hay, Dawne Ledbetter, Clovis and Jean Norman, Joe Reeves, Joe and Sharon Tillery, and Bob & Peggy Tucker.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.