Robert K. Miller, PhD

Robert K. Miller, PhD, age 99, of Newark, DE, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Bob led a quiet and exemplary life. As the youngest of five siblings from Harrisburg, PA, Bob joined the U.S. Army near the end of WWII. He often expressed gratitude not only for his good fortune of not seeing battle but also for the benefit of the G.I. Bill that provided him a path out of warehouse labor to university studies and a PhD in chemistry.

From the University of Delaware, Bob was hired on at Dupont, where he enjoyed a full career as an analytical spectroscopist. In his early days at Dupont, he met Dorothy Pfahler, a fellow chemist, also from Pennsylvania. Bob and Dorothy soon married, and settled in Newark, where they raised their daughters Karin and Cynthia, and lived out their lives. Bob supported Dorothy’s passion for preserving the White Clay Creek area for its natural inhabitants, and her decades of tireless efforts that led to the creation and expansion of White Clay Creek State Park.

In his leisure time Bob enjoyed mathematics, music, gardening, and especially astronomy. His enthusiasm for these pursuits was an inspiration to his children and grandchildren. At home, Bob always loved the company of a good cat, and there were many feline family members over the years—each lovingly remembered.

Bob was good-natured through-and-through, thoughtful, methodical, kind, and generous in all he did.  He was a great husband, dad, and grandpa who will be much missed.

He is survived by his daughters Karin Duncan (Jeff) of Fairfax, VA, and Cynthia Miller (Sabrina) of Santa Rosa, CA; grandchildren Kaley Ward (Chris), Daniel Duncan (Mia); and great-grandson Elliott.

All services will be held privately.