Warren Lincoln Miller, 90, of Northfield, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
Born on November 4th, 1934 in the coal-mining town of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, to Warren and Bertha Miller, he was the youngest of three children, with two older sisters, Gloria and Shirley. He learned to play the bass in school and later played gigs around Pennsylvania with local polka bands including Frankie Yancovic.
A proud Army veteran, Warren played the bass and French horn in both the Army Band and the Army Jazz Band before earning his degree in Music Education from West Chester State Teachers College – now West Chester University (where he met his beautiful future wife). He later received his Master’s degree from Trenton State College – now The College of New Jersey. In college, he also played bass with the college jazz band, the “Crites” (nickname for The Criterions).
After college, Warren and Sandy first moved to Ocean City, NJ, and later purchased their home in Northfield, where they built a life together and raised their family.
In 1960, Warren became the band director at Ocean City High School, where he inspired and taught thousands of students over a remarkable 36-year career before retiring in 1996.
After retiring from teaching, he continued to stay active as a store manager for Home Handyman in Pleasantville, and later at Ace Hardware in Northfield. A true craftsman, Warren’s second passion was woodworking — he built everything from furniture to a three-room addition to the family home, completing nearly all the work himself. He also played bass with the South Jersey Wind Ensemble, where he was the organization’s president for several years.
Warren loved the Phillies, Western movies, peanut butter, and the sounds of big band jazz — especially the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie. He was also a master on the grill and known for his dry wit and sarcastic humor.
Warren was preceded in death by his beloved younger son, David. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sandra; his son Bob (wife Christine); daughter Jennifer; and his cherished grandchildren, Matt (fiancé Tori), Mike (wife Elizabeth), Drew, Abby, Zoey, and Zach.
Memorial Service is to be held at Jeffries & Keates Funeral Home, 228 Infield Ave, Northfield on Monday November 10th, 2025 at 12:00 Noon. Visitation for family and friends will be at 11:00 AM until the time of service. Burial service will be held immediately after, at Friend’s Cemetery in Linwood.
The family kindly requests in lieu of flowers please send donations to Caring Inc. Memory Resource Center, 14 South California Ave. Atlantic City, NJ 0840.
To share your fondest memory of Warren please visit www.jeffriesandkeates.com.
