William Lee Miner

William Lee Miner (“Bill”), 87, a resident of Swanzey, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded with love and the company of family. He bravely battled dementia during the last year of his life and maintained his humor and joy for life until the end.

He was born a son to the late Elizabeth (Goorley-Smith) and Russell C. Miner on September 11, 1937, in Chatham, NJ. Bill was educated at and graduated from Chatham High School in New Jersey in 1955. After high school, he studied at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and then transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, majoring in Mathematics.

Bill enlisted to the United States Army on August 29, 1960. He worked as an Armorer and a Medical Specialist. He was honorably discharged at the rank of PFC-E on December 13, 1963.
On August 14, 1965, Bill exchanged vows with the love of his life, Judith (“Judy”) Leona Grabski. They had a beautiful ceremony in Maywood, Illinois with family and friends. The guests remember how the weather was extremely hot that day. They were happily married for 46 years until Judy passed away at age 70 on July 15, 2012, from cancer. Bill lovingly cared for her in their home during her illness.

Bill and Judy have two children. Beth was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1969. Kevin was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1970, where Bill and Judy had moved to experience cooler weather. Bill was a caring, involved, and supportive father.

Bill worked for the campus police as a dispatcher at the University of Vermont for 28 years until he retired in 1999. He truly enjoyed time and shared humor with his co-workers. Prior, he enjoyed working as a high school math teacher at St. Emma Military Academy in Virginia and then at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont. He was very skilled at math and would help his children with their math homework when they were in school.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed gardening and had several large gardens on his property. He also loved “puttering around” doing home maintenance, helping his in-laws who lived nearby, writing letters to friends and family, and keeping an ample supply of flashlights – an ongoing joke for the family. In his younger years, he spent time sailing with his family on Nantucket Sound. He also often spoke fondly of his solo trip driving across the country in a 1948 Pontiac. He loved to take care of his and Judy’s many rescued pet dogs and cats, especially his cat Hazel. One thing which Bill was especially proud of was building his and Judy’s dream home in Vermont, a house which Judy designed. Bill was known by all as a kind person, a loving husband, and an amazing father.

Bill is survived by his children, Kevin Miner and his partner, Sarah Peterson; Beth Mucci and her husband, Joseph; his siblings, Richard Miner and Richard’s wife, Carol; and Mary Ann Miner. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sarah Mucci, Adam Freeman and Adam’s wife, Erin, Corinne Miner, Ethan Miner, Grace Miner, and their mother, Tammy Thompson, along with cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Community Services, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431 ( https://www.hcsservices.org/ ) or to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 W. Swanzey Rd., Swanzey, NH 03446 ( https://monadnockhumanesociety.org/ ). All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, Chapel, and Crematory. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com .