Barbara Kemp Miller was born May 17, 1926 to the late Arthur H Kemp and Evelyn G Kemp in Massillon Ohio. She graduated in 1943 from Washington High School and in 1947 from Massillon City Hospital (MCH) School of Nursing in Massillon Ohio; she was a Cadet Nurse. She was a Staff Nurse in Dayton, Cleveland and Massillon, Ohio. In 1959 she joined the MCH School of Nursing faculty. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Masters of Science in Education from the University of Akron in Ohio. Barbara was Supervisor of School Nurses in Massillon for several years and also taught the Associate Degree Program at Kent State Tuscarawas College of Nursing in Dover, Ohio. In October, 1975 Barbara and her husband, Samuel L Miller moved to Mesa, AZ and in January 1976 she joined the ASU College of Nursing faculty; in 1999 Miller retired as a Professor Emerita.
Barbara earned a PhD in Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin, in 1985. Dr. Barbara Miller’s ‘Professionalism in Nursing’ model and Behavioral Instrument are used throughout the US as well as internationally. Barbara received awards in leadership and research throughout the years in addition to authoring over 30 published nursing articles.
Barbara is survived by son Dr. Mark A Miller and wife Mitzi of Knoxville, TN and brother Dr. Robert Kemp and wife Judy of Evanston, IL. Barbara was preceded in death by husband Samuel L Miller in 1979 and son Timothy K Miller of Mesa, AZ and brothers Col.(retired) Eugene A Kemp of Tallahassee, FL and Willard (Bill) E Kemp of Houston, TX.
Barbara became a member of the American Nurses Association following graduation from MCH in 1947. She was an active member of the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) and Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing’s Honor Society) member. She was also a lifetime member of The University of Texas College of Nursing in Austin Alumni.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to organizations dear to Barbara’s heart.
Donations can be made at the following links:
To Arizona Nurses Association’s General Fund – www.aznurse.org/donateAzNA
To Arizona Foundation for the Future of Nursing (AzNA’s philanthropic 501c3) – www.aznurse.org/donate
or to the College of Nursing, Arizona State University.
Mark and Mitzi, I am so sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing! I met her twice and found her to be an impressive lady. Lee and I are thinking about you !💕
I will always remember Dr. Miller’s class. She encouraged professional writing, and as a student I strive to live up to that expectation. She always remembered her students no matter how long ago the student had been in her classroom. My condolences to her family and friends.
Ellen Poole, PhD, RN