William Thurman “Don” Miller (1908–1988)

Beginnings in Louisville

William Thurman Miller was born on 18 January 1908 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was the son of Claude H. Miller and Mattie Belle App, both Kentucky-born, with Mattie’s parents hailing from Germany.

The 1910 census captured little Thurman, just 2 years old, at 3513 Green Wood Avenue in Louisville. His father, Claude, worked as a collector for an insurance company, while his mother kept the household. The census also noted that the couple had already weathered the heartbreak of losing a child—three births, but only two little boys living: Thurman and his baby brother, Bertram.

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Growing Up in Louisville

By 1920, the Millers had shifted to 4715 Fourth Street in Allison County, Jefferson. Claude had moved from insurance work to dry cleaning. Thurman, now 11, shared the home with brothers Bertram (9) and Louis Aloysius (8).

The 1930 census shows the family established at 2032 Lakeside Drive. Claude was managing a dye works company, Mattie kept the household, Bertram was working as an electrician, and Thurman — 22 years old by then — was still at home. The Millers were doing well enough to own their home, valued around $8,000.

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A Move West

By the 1940 census, Thurman had ventured far from Kentucky. Listed in Redding, Shasta County, California, he was working as a dishwasher, earning $500 in 1939, and boarding in a large household of lodgers.

His draft card, filed in October 1940, describes him as 5’8”, 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

In February 1941, the Redding Record-Searchlight reported that Thurman and four other men had entered the armed services. He had joined the Redding National Guard unit, volunteering for service before being called up in the national draft.

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Marriage and Family Life

On 14 November 1941, Thurman married Opal Estelle McNeely of Santa Claus, Indiana. A small chicken dinner followed their home wedding, and the couple returned to Redding to begin their married life. Thurman had just been honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

By 1950, William and Opal were raising a bustling household at 1823 Grant Street in Redding. Thurman was the head of the family, working as a night watchman with his own business, “Miller’s Night Watch Patrol.” His work kept him on duty for 84 hours a week, bringing in $3,600 that year. The census lists his wife Opal, two daughters (Carol and Mildred), and several foster children living with them.

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Later Years

Thurman’s obituary gives a little more color to his life. In his early years, he had even pursued acting before settling into his role as a veteran, watchman, and family man. He lived in Redding from 1945 to 1963, later moving south to Arroyo Grande in San Luis Obispo County, where he spent his final decade.

On 20 February 1988, William Thurman “Don” Miller died at age 80 in an Arroyo Grande convalescent hospital. He requested cremation with no formal services, a quiet exit for a man who had lived across states, trades, and roles. He was survived by his brother Bert, four daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

✨ Want the quick introduction? We’ve set up an Intro Page for William Thurman “Don” Miller » where you can share his story with family and friends more easily.

Until next time,

~Kris

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Revisited by Bones

William Thurman “Don” Miller lived a life that reads like a patchwork quilt of the 20th century: Louisville roots, a dash of Hollywood ambition, wartime service, and the steady grind of night watch patrols in California. His records tell us he was a dishwasher, a soldier, an actor, a husband, and a father — but they leave gaps that beg for stories.

Why did he leave Kentucky for California? Did the “Don” nickname tie to his acting years, or did it grow from something closer to home? His obituary hints at a man who reinvented himself more than once, and that kind of quiet transformation always makes me wonder: what of his laughter, his temper, his stubbornness, his dreams?

If you knew Don — or heard family tales about him — your memories are the missing threads that would help stitch this story tighter. Drop them in the comments on his Intro page so we can keep his story alive, not just in census lines but in the voices of those who remember.

~Bones 🕯️