Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, the Rev. Alan Craig Miller died Dec. 2, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born April 18, 1952, in Sellersville, he was the son of the late William Frederick and Janet Stone (Sauerland) Miller.

In his youth, he loved soccer and baseball, and played varsity soccer for Pennridge High School, during which he was selected as an all-conference player.

A 1974 graduate of Lehigh University, from which he earned a civil engineering degree, he was called to the ministry in 1975 and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

During seminary, he served as youth pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Allison Park, Allegheny County.

He was ordained at St. Stephens United Church of Christ, his childhood church home, on July 15, 1979.

Upon ordination, he began his full-time ministry as an associate pastor at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ.

In 1982, Greenawalds United Church of Christ called him as the senior pastor.

In 1992, he began area ministry when the Southern Conference called him to serve as the associate conference minister of the Western North Carolina Association in Salisbury, N.C.

He served as the associate conference minister for 10 years until the Penn Northeast Conference called him as the conference minister, in which he served for 15 years until he retired from the ministry in 2017 with 40 years of service to the community and churches of the United Church of Christ.

When not serving the church, he enjoyed his community, serving as a volunteer for the Greenawalds Fire Department as fire chaplain, leading several mission trips to Appalachia, and helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

His favorite trip, in 2008, included building houses with President Jimmy Carter in Georgia for Habitat for Humanity.

He served as on the board of directors for Phoebe Ministries, Allentown, and as a cabinet member for the National United Church of Christ Council of Conference Ministers.

He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Fullerton.

In 2017, he wrote a book titled, “In My Weakness, You are My Strength,” about his courageous battle with cancer.

He enjoyed athletics, was an avid Eagles and Phillies fan, and loved watching any type of sporting event surrounded by family and good food. His hobbies included golf, carpentry and cooking.

He used his talents not only in mission work but also to build several pieces of furniture for his family.

He loved reading, going to the beach, playing golf, laughing with friends, and being the life of any party.

His light will truly be missed

On June 15, 1974, he married his high school sweetheart, Candace “Candy” Kay (Frese) Miller.

Together, they had two children, Mark Alan Miller (Stephanie) and Christina Leigh Miller Lipstreu (James).

The couple have five grandchildren: Ian Mark and Elle Christiane Miller, Cooper James, Miller Keenan and Harper Grace Lipstreu.

He centered his life on faith and family.

His survivors include brother, David Blake Miller and his wife, Mary Kathryn Miller; sisters-in-law Jeanette Sees (Frese) and Phyllis Schwartz (Frese) and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family, colleagues and friends may pay their respects 4-6 p.m. Jan. 5, 2023, in Jordan United Church of Christ, 1837 Church Road, South Whitehall. A memorial service of celebration and Thanksgiving for his legacy will be 11 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2023, in Jordan UCC.

Child care will be provided during the service for preschool children.

A live steam of the service will be available on the Jordan UCC website by following the link jordanucc.org/online-worship.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelman.cares.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont or to Habitat for Humanity both c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements were made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.