Susan Fultz Miller

Published 8:34 am Monday, January 22, 2018

Susan Fultz Miller, 66, passed away January 17, 2018 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was a woman with a remarkable and rare combination of strength and kindness, a cherished wife and best friend, and the most amazing mother and grandmother.

A world traveler, Susan most recently visited Ireland, Cuba, and took a leaf-looking trip to New England. She loved the ocean and spent many happy weekends with family, walking up and down the sandy stretches of Wrightsville Beach. She instilled a sense of curiosity and adventure in her three daughters while taking them on cross-country summer road trips.

She was a talented gardener, earning her Master Gardener certificate during her retirement. She learned to garden from her mother and made sure to pass that patient passion on to her daughters. She also knew how to live into the quiet moments – you could often find her curled up with a great book (her home was full of them), or knitting, or quilting, or cross-stitching – whatever hobby she happened to pick up for the moment. She was a member of St. Clements Episcopal Church and delighted in the friendship of the Women’s Group there.

Just as she embraced the world, she embraced those around her. She always made space for and welcomed her children’s friends at their home, from sleepovers to Christmas caroling parties. Her home was always bustling with life of all kinds – plants, pets, kids, friends, neighbors. Her big heart shone through her work as a school psychologist as well. She brought patience, caring, and creativity, and loved working with her kids. Her colleagues appreciated her expertise in traumatic brain injury, children with special needs, and job coaching.

Born on October 2, 1951 in Jacksonville, FL, Susan grew up by the water with her family, following her father’s Navy career. She lived in Boston, MA.; Philadelphia, PA.; Florence, Italy; Cairo, Egypt; Long Beach, CA and finally, South Boston, VA after her father’s retirement. She met Richard, the love of her life, at an archaeological dig when she was 19 and he was 18. Together they attended the University of Delaware, where Susan graduated with a BA in Psychology, and SUNY-Albany where she received her Masters in School Psychology. They spent an extended honeymoon teaching English in Athens, Greece, before starting their family in North Carolina. Their 47 years together were filled with adventure, love, and lots of laughter.

Susan is survived by her husband of 41.5 years, Richard S. Miller; daughter, Sarah Miller; daughter Anna Miller (husband Fernando Cardoso); daughter, Beth Miller Wagener (husband Joe Wagener) and baby-to-be; and her one-week old granddaughter, Carmen Carolina Cardoso Miller; all of whom she loved deeply. She is also survived by her mother, Dot Iskra (husband, Frank); sister, Carol Frieden (husband, Rick); and brothers, Bob Fultz (wife, Dongmei) and George Fultz (wife, Anka); as well as many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and wonderful siblings-in-law.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care of Forsyth County, Cancer Services, and her healthcare teams at Novant and Baptist. Special thanks also to her favorite yoga teacher, Angela Gallagher.

A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, January 22 at 1pm at St. Clements Episcopal Church, 3600 Harper Road, Clemmons, NC 27012. The visitation will be held on Sunday, January 21 from 4-6pm at Voglers Funeral Home, 2849 Middlebrook Drive, Clemmons, NC, 27012.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cancer Services (3175 Maplewood Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27103) or the Greensboro Beautiful Bicentennial Garden, in memory of Susan Miller (1001 Fourth St, Greensboro, NC  27405), one of Susan’s longtime favorite places to spend time with her family.