William ‘Bill’ Thomas Miller

William “Bill” Thomas Miller, 63, died March 9, 2011, at Veterans Hospital in Temple. He was born in San Angelo on Feb. 28, 1948, to John Calton and Thelma Rae Miller.

As a child, he spent most of his time skiing and fishing the waters of the Highland Lakes. He graduated from Llano High School in 1966; shortly afterward, he joined the Marine Corps.

He married Suzanne Inks of Llano in 1968 and spent his military career as a Marine meteorologist stationed in Yuma, Ariz., during the Vietnam War. After an honorable discharge, he moved his family to Houston and started a sign business.

Shortly after the birth of their second child, the couple dissolved their marriage.

In 1975, he and his sons moved to Jonestown, where he started Miller’s Signs and became involved in his community. In 1981, he petitioned the Travis County Commissioners Court to place “no wake” buoys along the Sandy Creek arm of Lake Travis. His petition was granted in 1982.

He also was the motivation behind the establishment of a memorial monument to honor veterans who served in the Vietnam War.

In 1987, he ran for mayor of Jonestown. Although he was defeated, he continued to be a vocal member of the community. He was an honorary member of the Jonestown Chamber of Commerce and was on the committee for the first Catfish Fry, which raised money for city improvements. He also sponsored the Jonestown Chili Cook-off.

He donated many signs to the people of Jonestown, as well as money and materials to build picnic tables for the Jonestown Volunteer Fire Department. These went into the city park, as well as a plaque honoring each fire department member.

He also donated his talents as a face painter for local schools, street dances and community events for many years. He sponsored many youth sports leagues and always made caps and T-shirts in his sign shop for the teams to wear.

Survivors include sons Michael Thomas Miller of Austin and John Rae Miller of Jonestown; grandchildren Erin and Landen; and brother Fred Hays of San Angelo.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A service is 11 a.m. April 2 at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park, 4219 Park Road 4 South in Burnet County, with Kevin Donahue officiating.

A memorial benefit is 4 p.m. at the Pavilion in Jones Brother’s Park in Jonestown.

Condolences may be sent to whhfuneral1@verizon.net or online at www.whhfuneralhome.com.