CASTALIA - John A. Miller, age 83, of Castalia, died Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 13, 2012, at Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, following a brief illness. He was born Oct. 19, 1929, in Sandusky, and graduated from Margaretta High School in 1948. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sandusky, where he played on the Venice #3 dartball team for many years. He was a self-employed farmer all his life, and won many awards for growing vegetables, and was the top tomato grower in 1949. He received a state farmer degree through FFA. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley (Ward) Miller; daughter, Jane (Roger) Rowland, Bellevue; two sons, Steven (Holly) Miller, Castalia, and Allen (Casey) Miller, Castalia; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dora Myers, Castalia, and Joan Deering, Greenwich; and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Amelia (Schoewe) Miller; sister, Esther Behnke; and seven brothers, Elmer, Lee, Carl, Paul, Calvin, Quentin, and August Miller. Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 16) at Ransom Funeral Home, 610S. Washington St., Castalia. The body will lie in state from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church 502 Bardshar Rd., Sandusky. The Rev. Philip Gardner will officiate. Burial will be in Castalia Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Back to the Wild, 4504 Bardshar Rd., Castalia, OH 44824; and to Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 Bardshar Rd., Sandusky, OH 44870. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ransomfuneralhome.com.