Donovan Miller

Donovan J. Miller, 71, Indianapolis, died Thursday afternoon at home. He was born Nov. 21, 1940 in Constantine, Michigan, to the late Samuel E. and Rachel E. (Rheinheimer) Miller. Mr. Miller graduated from Goshen College with a bachelor's degree in social work and received his master's in social work from IUPUI. He began his professional life at Adriel School, a child service agency in West Liberty, Ohio where he gave two years in alternate service to the military. He worked for many years at Family Service Association of Indianapolis and retired in 2006 from Cummins Mental Health Center, Avon. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Barbara A. Miller; son, J. Vaughn Miller and daughter-in-law Susan Blum; daughter Shawndra B. Miller and daughter-in-law Judith Hostetler; grandchildren Cole Donovan Miller and Aubrey Ellen Miller; sisters, Carol Kramer, Rosemary Miller, and Gloria Hearten; and brother, Lynn Miller. He was preceded in death by a brother, Mervin Miller. He was a lifelong lover of jazz and blues and was devoted to many conservation causes. An avid gardener, in retirement Mr. Miller gave freely of his time to numerous organizations, most notably the Indiana State Museum where he conceived of a multi-year restoration project to return the Turner Gardens to Indiana native prairie, leading a small group of volunteers in the effort. At Cold Spring School, he was "chief gardener" and caretaker of the greenhouse, helping to introduce grade schoolers to the marvels of green and growing things as part of the school's environmental studies magnet program. He also tended a tract of forest for Central Indiana Land Trust; helped take student groups on rafting trips with Friends of the White River; removed invasive plants and led student tours at Marion University EcoLab; and spearheaded the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society's Letha's Youth Outdoors Fund, which helps schoolchildren experience nature in an educational context. In recent months he was recognized with the Hoosier Environmental Council's Land Steward of the Year award and the Central Indiana Land Trust's Great Blue Heron Award for Extraordinary Service. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to: Mister Donovan's Greenhouse c/o Friends of Cold Spring School, Inc. Wendy Ford, Secretary 6911 Cabernet Way Indianapolis, IN 46278 Letha's Fund c/o Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society P.O. Box 30317 Indianapolis, IN 46230 Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites Attn: Memorials for Donovan Miller to Turner Garden 650 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 First Mennonite Church 4601 Knollton Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46228 Central Indiana Land Trust 1500 N. Delaware St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 A memorial service will be at 3pm Sunday, Feb. 5, at First Mennonite Church, 4601 Knollton Road, Indianapolis. Private graveside service for extended family will take place Monday, Feb. 6. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan