Lois A. (Weaver) Miller

Lois Ann (Weaver) Miller died peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Aug. 11, 2021. She was a horse lover and volunteer extraordinaire. Her passion for how horses can help people, especially children, led to more than 35 years of serving on the board and as a side walker and instructor for Riding for the Handicapped of Western Pennsylvania.

Lois Ann Weaver was born on August 23, 1930 to Charles and Bertha Weaver. She grew up helping on the family farm in Coraopolis, PA, alongside three brothers. A 1948 graduate of Moon High School, Mrs. Miller earned an associate degree in business from Robert Morris (College) University. On August 5, 1950, she married high school sweetheart Richard C. Miller. When Dick earned his PH.D. at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., Lois claimed she earned her “P.H.T. degree” for “Push Hubby Through.” The couple returned to Moon Township where they raised two sons. In her 40’s, she would complete her college degree at the University of Pittsburgh.

Throughout her children’s youth, Lois was an active volunteer for the Moon YMCA. In the early 1960’s, she assisted her husband Dick and Robert Romano, to establish a psychology office that was the first independent psychologist practice in Pittsburgh.

In 1976, the couple bought a farm near Mars, PA, where they raised Arabian horses. In 1979 Lois began volunteering with RHWPA, one of the first equine assisted therapy programs in the United States. Until age 84, she led weekly therapy sessions, organized benefit horse shows to provide free therapy to children with disabilities and served on the board as president and treasurer.

For decades, Mrs. Miller was a member of the North West Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Association and the Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Association. She held club offices including President of PAHA and she served as a five-state regional director to the International Arabian Horse Association, Denver, Co. In 1989 she received the IAHA Ambassador of the Year award. As a summer horse show manager, she is fondly remembered for carefully taking care of details and including a stick horse category for all children and children at heart.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dick and brothers Charles (Rosemary) and Richard (Elizabeth). She is survived by younger brother George (Donna) Weaver, and sons Richard K. (Jane) and Jeffrey B. (Heidi) Miller, five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her family lovingly remembers her lessons in life while mucking stalls in a barn. She taught to sift through shavings, then deal with manure and save what’s good.

Donations in memory of Lois A. Miller may be given to Riding for the Handicapped of Western Pennsylvania, 9950 Grubbs Rd., Wexford, PA 15090 or at rhwpa.org.

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