Lois Miller

The following is an obituary written by her loving family. 

Lois Sherman Miller, 106, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2026 in her home in Avon, IN where she relocated after several years of living in St. Petersburg, FL. She was born on January 26, 1920 on a farm near Topeka, KS and was the last of five children of Francis Joseph and Lois Brady Wolfe Scherman. She was schooled at Seabrook Grade School and graduated Washburn Rural High School 1938, and attended Kansas State College. In early 1940, she left college to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co as a draftsperson. In 1942, she married Marion A. Miller, a childhood friend and school mate. They were married for 77 years. After their marriage, Lois and Marion moved to Dayton, OH where Marion’s military assignment was at Wright Patterson Field. It was during his Army Air Corp stint that three of their children, Jo Ann, Steven and Virginia were born. In 1947, the family returned to Topeka where the last of their four children, Jim, was born. The family moved from Kansas to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1954 where they resided until 2019. Lois and Marion were “snow birds” in St. Petersburg, FL spending several winters at their condo. After Marion’s death in 2019, Lois moved to FL and resided with her daughter Jo Ann until May, 2025. She then returned to IN and lived in Harmony at Avon until her death.

Lois is survived by her daughters, Jo Ann Van Voorhies and Virginia Sheikh. and son, Steven Miller (Linda).  A son, Jim, preceded her in death, and two sons-in-law, Bill Van Voorhies and Mehrdad Sheikh. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Beth Mitchell (Jace), Michelle Orr (Chris) Jim Miller (Beth), Mike Miller (Dawn), Eric Sheikh, and Jason Sheikh (Brandy); ten great- grandchildren; and thirteen great-great-grandchildren; with two great-greats on the way.

She loved music, the arts, traveling and being active. She learned to play the trumpet in 1938 while in high school and played her original 1937 Conn trumpet the rest of her life. Well into her eighties, she played in various musical groups including the Indianapolis Municipal Band, the Indianapolis Oasis Orchestra, and several church ensembles. In Florida she played in the Pasadena Community Band and the New Horizons Band of Gulfport. Also in her eighties, she was a tap dancer in the Yesterways Senior Group that performed for retirement communities in Indianapolis and at the Indiana State Fair. She was an artist creating beautiful oil paintings, many of which hang in the homes of her family. She and Marion had a love for traveling throughout the United States and especially enjoyed their winter skiing trips to upper Michigan and their two trips to Hawaii with their family. At 104, she got her first passport and took a cruise with her daughters to the Caribbean. For several years, she participated in the baseball throw in the Senior Olympics winning several awards for her age group. She was active as a Girl Scout Leader and served many years as a team captain for the American Heart Association. She was recognized by the Indianapolis Museum of Art for over 50 years of volunteer work. She and Marion were long-time members of the Speedway United Methodist Church, raising their children in the Faith.

Lois was very kind-hearted and loving to all she met. She displayed great affection for her family, teaching them lessons in thoughtfulness and consideration for others. She had a strong compassion for people and animals. Her long-lasting marriage to Marion was the strongest testament to a life well lived.

A funeral service for Lois will be held Monday, November 16, 2026, at Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home in Pittsboro, IN. Visitation begins at 11AM and the service will begin at 1PM. Burial will be in Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis following the memorial service.

The family requests that you honor Lois with your donations to your favorite charity or your house of worship.

Arrangements are entrusted to Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home. All are encouraged to keep Lois’s family in your prayers during this difficult time of loss.