On March 30, 2015, Virginia Alice Miller shuffled off her mortal coil. Virginia had lived a long, full life, having spent 92 years on this Earth. She was born on November 12, 1922 to Albert Perkins and Jessie (Antrim) Perkins--one of four girls born to Albert and Jessie.

Virginia was raised on her parent's farm South of Randolph. She attended elementary, middle and high school in Randolph where she graduated from high school in 1940. Afterwards, Virginia attended the Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing. Warren Miller interrupted her education by convincing her to elope with him in 1943. Still, she attained the education to later become a Licensed Practical Nurse.

In 1944, Virginia gave birth to their first child, Gloria Jean Miller. Mary Sue was their second child, born in 1947. Warren James Miller, Jr., their third child, was born in 1957, and their fourth, and last, child, Richard Thomas Miller, was born in 1959.

Among other things, Virginia's life was remarkable for the tragedy she endured, and the grace and strength with which she endured it. In 1968, Virginia's daughter Mary Sue and Mary Sue's boyfriend were killed by a drunk driver while walking along the Iowa River at the University of Iowa campus. Two years later, in 1970, Virginia's son Warren James Miller, Jr. died in a farming accident on the Miller family farm. Also, her grandson (Gloria's son), Jeremy Hubbard, died of cancer when he was young. Despite such tragedy, Virginia consistently maintained a positive outlook.

She spent a career in nursing helping others while setting an affirmative example for the younger nurses she mentored. Virginia gave of herself in other ways. She was active in the Eastern Star and 4-H organizations. Also, Virginia regularly attended the United Methodist Church first in Randolph, then in Sidney and later in her life in Shenandoah.

When Virginia was not working, raising her children, tending to her household, helping her husband on the farm or volunteering her time, she loved to garden and cook, especially to experiment in the kitchen. She enjoyed developing new recipes, and when the renowned food critics and authors Jane and Michael Stern visited Iowa to write an article about rural life, Virginia served them "Virginia Miller's Elegant Pork Chops." The recipe for this dish was the first recipe ever published in the New Yorker magazine. Later, in October, 2010, Saveur magazine cited this recipe as the one of the "25 Best Recipes Ever," describing her pork chops as "insanely delicious."

Virginia was also known for her beauty and style. She consistently dressed and presented herself well--she loved nice clothes, shoes and handbags.

Virginia and Warren Miller were married for 59 years. They spent most of their joined lives on the Miller farm East of Anderson. Persistent flooding forced them to move off the farm. They moved into Shenandoah in 1995. Warren died in 2002.

Virginia is survived by her children, Gloria Coffey and Richard Miller, and her daughter-in-law, Angela Paul. Virginia is also survived by Gloria's children, Benjamin Bacon and Mary Vogler, and Richard's children, Cameron and Collin Miller. The family would like to express its thanks to the fine nurses and other caretakers at the Elm Heights Nursing Home where Virginia spent her final days.

Gloria and Richard ask that you join them to remember Virginia Alice Miller by attending a memorial service at the Randolph United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 24th at 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Randolph United Methodist Church in Randolph, Iowa.