Thomas "Tom" Kinsey Miller
May 5, 1952 ~ March 31, 2025
Born in:
Winchester, Virginia
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Thomas Kinsey “Tom” Miller, 72, of Asheville, NC, died on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC.
Tom was born on May 5, 1952, in Winchester, VA, the son of the late Paul Hunter and Peggy Ritter Miller. He was a graduate of James Wood High School, Class of 1971, and James Madison University. Tom served in the U.S. Army from 1972-1978, two years active duty and four years in the Reserves.
Tom married Bonnie Shanks from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, on November 4, 1989, in Orange, CA. He had a satisfying career as a sales manager for Kawneer and Alcoa and loved living in Orange, CA, Honolulu, HI, and Duluth, GA. Tom retired in 2008, and in 2017 the couple moved to Asheville, NC. They enjoyed spending time at their cabin that they purchased in 2010 close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While at the cabin Tom looked forward to having a fire in the fireplace and riding motorcycles on the Blue Ridge Parkway. At all of their homes, there were always woodworking projects and general household maintenance to keep him busy. Tom was warm and welcoming and always ready to make new friends.
Tom was a car guy. He knew the specifics of any vehicle he saw. He started riding motorcycles at age 14 and never stopped riding. His last bike was a Slingshot. He was planning to get a Corvette to replace it, a concession to aging. His great loves were family, woodworking, and travelling – in the U.S, Europe, and to Thunder Bay, Ontario, to see his Canadian family.
Surviving with his wife, Bonnie, is a sister, Martha Miller Prusch (Bill), of Winchester VA, brother-in-law Ed Froehlich of Stephens City, VA, nieces Catharine Amy Prusch of Winchester, Elizabeth Prusch Hynal (Kevin) of Sewickley, PA, and Rebecca Froehlich Headings of Virginia Beach, VA, and their families. When he married Bonnie, Tom was gifted with three brothers, Doug, Don & Bill Shanks, as well as nine nieces & nephews: Brittany, Meghan, Zeph, Bryan, Ryan, Eric, Norman, Courtney, and Brad who grew up loving Uncle Tom. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Miller Froehlich.
A Celebration of Life to share remembrances of Tom will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Crowfields Clubhouse, 1745 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Great Smokey Mountains National Park at FriendsoftheSmokeys.org (click on ‘Make a Donation’) or to Duke University Hospital at DukeHealth.org (click on ‘Give’).
Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.
Services
Celebration of Life: April 26, 2025 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Room: Clubhouse
Crowfields Condominiums
1745 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
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I’m so deeply sorry for the family’s loss. I remember growing up with the Miller family here in Winchester. Sending prayers.
, was not blood relative but through a series of life events, he came willingly into my life. We had some great times listening to music and him sharing some stories of his military life. He always would lend an ear to any concern and never knew a stranger. Always an inviting soul, he could strike up a conversation with anyone. He always had a glow about him and reminded me of his mother Peggy. Not saying he was feminine but he learned how to be a well spoken individual with a business man’s vocabulary. Peggy was a teacher to all. Uncle Tom made several trips back up home and I missed a few, but the ones I did make were always a blessing as he always shared of himself and showed interest to any topic you wished to discuss. He will be missed by all that knew and loved him, as I surely will miss his ever glowing smile.i don’t think I ever saw him frown…..his outlook was always comforting and his demeanor was inviting. May Martha remember all the wonderful times during their childhood and beyond. Take peace and comfort that Tom, Mary, Peggy and Paul are standing with our Lord awaiting our return home. God bless you all that have lost.
I just want to send my deepest sympathies to everyone in Tommy’s family (Tommy is how I knew him)….when we moved from Florida to Winchester Virginia in July 1968, the Miller’s ended up as neighbors of ours, about four houses down the street on Wentworth Drive. My sister was a rising senior at James Wood High School, and knew no one as far as any friends…she was a year or two older than Tommy so they didn’t graduate at the same time…..mind you I was just a little kid, no school worries yet. At any rate, Tommy was one of the first people my sister knew in the neighborhood (me too) and I always remembered him as a good guy and someone a little kid like me could look up to. I have posted a picture (hope it made it here on the site) of myself perched on a motorcycle Tommy had at the time, probably the first one I had ever sat on..! This pic was taken on the corner of Wentworth and Beechcroft, about two houses up from where the Millers lived. I vaguely recall when Tommy went off to join the Army, and I don’t know if I ever saw him after that. This is just one thing that has always stuck with me thru the years (I am 59 now) and I wanted to share this, a kid’s memory of someone he looked up to. Prayers to you all during these times and God Bless.