Darwin Wayne Miller, Jr.

Darwin Wayne Miller, Jr., 71, of Waco passed away Monday, October 28, 2024, at his home.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, with Johnny Stephens officiating. A reception at the funeral home will immediately follow the service. A private family committal service at Waco Memorial Park will take place at a later date. 

A proud lifelong resident of Waco, Darwin was born February 25, 1953. Upon graduating from Richfield High School in 1971, he went on to obtain his BBA in Accounting from Baylor University in 1975. While in school, he sold cars for the family business, Freddie Miller Autos, where he worked from 1971 to 1987. In 1987, he and his family purchased City Wrecking Company, an auto salvage yard in Elm Mott, Texas, which he owned and operated alongside his brother, father, and father-in-law from 1987 to 1999. He then worked as an independent real estate appraiser from 2002 until his death. In the latter years of his appraisal career, he continued the “family business” tradition by mentoring his beloved nephew Dylan Canady in the trade.

The self-professed best day of Darwin’s life was when he married his high school sweetheart and soulmate, Suzanne Rene’ Janes, on May 31, 1975, at Miller Chapel on Baylor University campus. Darwin and Suzanne enjoyed 49 years of marriage together, remaining devoted to one another and serving as an example of steadfast commitment to all those who knew them. Their love continued to grow throughout the years, as they enjoyed close companionship, continuously flowing conversation, frequent trips to the lake and beach, the finest in food and wine, nights spent partying with friends and attending rock concerts and plays. Laughter and camaraderie were the pillars of the beautiful life they built together. Darwin’s greatest joys were their two children, Darwin Wayne III (“Trey”) and Robyn Rene’, whom they raised in Waco. Trey and Robyn will always remember how hard their father worked to provide them with a happy home (which became a second home to many of their childhood friends), filled with compassion, laughter, and music; memorable vacations all over the country and beyond; encouragement to further their educations and work hard to achieve their own dreams; and a steadfast role model who instilled in them the values of empathy, integrity, and deeply committing oneself to family, friends, and community. His children never once doubted that their tremendously proud father loved them deeply and would always be there, both to share in their triumphs, and to build them up as they faced life’s many challenges. 

As his family grew over the years, Darwin welcomed his son-in-law Justin and daughter-in-law Holly, loving them as his own. They will forever treasure the warmth and affection of a caring and devoted father who always had their backs. As Darwin took on the role of “Papa” to his three beloved grandchildren, he and Suzanne purchased a condo in Galveston, Texas, to accommodate cherished family getaways to their favorite beach. He also generously offered the use of the condo, dubbed “Good Day Sunshine,” to loved ones so that they too could enjoy his home-away-from-home. Darwin had a broad conception of family, which included countless friends and colleagues with whom he shared uniquely strong bonds. Collectively, his family will miss his frequent check-ins and encouragement, as well as his booming voice and colorful sense of humor.

Darwin was a phenomenal home cook, taking great pains to grill the perfect medium rare steaks for his lucky dinner guests. His family and friends never felt more loved than when they had a “Darwin Meal,” because yes, “Darwin can cook!” Darwin’s other passion in life was cars, and he could rattle off the specs of just about any vehicle you could think of. Over the years, he was the proud owner of an assortment of Corvettes, muscle cars, and motorcycles. Always a dreamer, he enjoyed telling his loved ones about the next car he hoped to own, or the next destination he planned to visit.

A true Christian, Darwin knew he would rejoin his many friends and loved ones who went before him and prepare a place for the family he left behind. Darwin was preceded in death by his best friend, confidant, and “partner-in-crime,” his father, Darwin Miller, Sr.; his mother, Doris Gholson Miller; his in-laws, Don H. Janes, Mabel Ann Janes, and Leona Cairns Janes; and brother-in-law, Don L. Janes, all of Central Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Rene’ Janes Miller, of Waco; his son, Darwin “Trey” Wayne Miller, III and wife, Holly, and his grandsons, Alden and Oliver, of Dallas; his daughter, Robyn Rene’ Beckham and husband, Justin, and his granddaughter, Nova, of Canton; his honorary daughter, Jenni Stewart, of New York City; his brother, James C. Miller and wife, Megan, of Waco; his siblings-in-law, Jennifer Janes Canady, Hazel Cairns Spinn, Gregg Cairns, and Becky Janes, all of Central Texas; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and cherished friends all over the world.

Memorials may be made to the Terry Scholars Fund of the Terry Foundation at www.terryfoundation.org/donate. Darwin was truly grateful to the Terry Foundation for their role in supporting the college educations of his children, and he was delighted later to become a regular donor to the Foundation himself. 

As Darwin was a character who lived life to the fullest, the family knows you all have cherished favorite memories of him. Please post them on his “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com or on his Facebook page or share your stories in person at his Celebration of Life on November 9.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – The Beatles