Fred J. Miller, 80, who is considered “a master showman of color guard” in Winter Guard International’s Hall of Fame died Friday of congestive heart failure, said his family.

“It’s been expected for the last two weeks,” said his wife, Marlene Miller, 77. “He was under the care of Hospice, and we were told that there was nothing that they could do. His heart was too weak at that point.”

He passed away at his home in Centerville at 1:30 p.m.

“I decided to bring him home because we wanted him to be comfortable, and we could take care of him,” his wife said.

Miller was a former band director at Fairborn High School from 1957 to 1968.

A drum major in high school and music education student at the University of Dayton, he used his passion for music and artistry to become the founding member of the United States Twirling Association and was the main force behind bringing Winter Guard International Championships to Dayton. In 1952, he founded Miller’s Blackhawks Twirling Corporation, made up of baton twirlers, flags, rifles, drums and brass instruments. The Blackhawks won 22 national championship twirling contests before disbanding in 1979.

As his career evolved, Miller entered the business world because he saw a need for attractive and well-designed uniforms. Along with his wife, they formed Fred J. Miller Inc., a Centerville company that designs uniforms and accessories for marching bands, color guards, drum corps and other pageantry units all over the world. The family-based company includes their daughter and twin sons Mark and Mike Miller, 49, and has employed more than 120 people.

“He is truly the most amazing man in the world, so generous to children, families and education, and he lived life to the fullest, we are going to miss him,” said his daughter Mary Lynn Dorow, 52.

The visitation will be held at Tobias Funeral Home on Far Hills Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Incarnation Church, 45 Wiliamsburg Lane. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

“My father was so positive, so energetic and so inspirational. He fought to the end and never gave up,” said his daughter.

“He is an inspiration, and he wasn’t only my dad he was my best friend,” said his sons.

In addition to his wife and children, he is also survived by eight grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.