Katherine Elizabeth (Hoover) Miller, 80, of Bloomfield, Conn., died unexpectedly on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn. She was born in San Diego, Calif., on Dec. 28, 1935, daughter of the late Rear Admiral Gilbert C. Hoover, USN, and Mabel (Dumbell) Hoover.  

After graduating from Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, in 1954, she attended the University of Colorado and graduated from Rhode Island College of Education. Katherine taught at Martin Hall Speech School in Bristol, as a speech therapist, where she met her husband, Barry Allen Miller. On June 6, 1964, they were married in Bristol and moved to Glastonbury, Conn. She was a long-time and active member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Bristol, and then St. James Episcopal Church in Glastonbury. Most recently, she attended Old Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in Bloomfield, Conn.  

Katherine’s greatest joys in life were her family and friends. She spoke often of how proud she was of her children and their families. She attended countless swim meets, soccer games, plays and music performances for both her boys and, later, her grandchildren. She was incredibly outgoing and friendly, and had a big heart for all those she met. She was a “second mom” to many. She was always there to lend an ear, and support, in times of both joy and pain.

Katherine was a lifetime educator and volunteer. She spent many hours helping in the Glastonbury Schools, most notably Hopewell School. She volunteered her time at the Orchard Hill Swim Club, Hartwell Soccer Club, and numerous church and school committees.  

Katherine was a huge sports fan and enjoyed traveling. She was also an avid reader — a member of two different book clubs, and a volunteer at the “Little Red Library” in Glastonbury for many years, until she moved to an apartment at Duncaster in Bloomfield. She was extremely happy at Duncaster and felt blessed to have found such a welcoming community to live in after her husband died in 2009. She leaves behind many new friends there who will miss her dearly. Katherine lived life to the fullest each and every day and saw beauty in the smallest of things.  

Katherine leaves her son, Stephen Miller (Leslie) of Gibsonia, Penn.; son Richard Miller (Laura) of North Granby, Conn.; sister Ann Hoover Wood of Parkville, MD; grandchildren Geoffrey, Matthew, Marin, Cameron, Joshua, and Noah; as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Barry Allen Miller, and her brother, Gilbert Corwin Hoover, Jr.  

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m., at St. James Episcopal Church, 2584 Main St., Glastonbury. A reception and gathering time will follow the service at the church. A service and interment of ashes will be held on a future date at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Bristol.  

Memorial donations may be made to either of two charities that she supported for many years: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (fidelco.org/donate), or the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111 (cthumane.org). 

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For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.