Hope Ridings Miller, 99; Transformed Coverage as Post Society Editor

Hope Ridings Miller, 99, who observed life in the U.S. capital for more than 70 years as society editor of the Washington Post and a magazine editor and author, died April 29 of congestive heart failure at her Washington, D.C., home.

Miller epitomized the genteel white-glove style of society reporting that once prevailed at America’s newspapers. A friend of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and noted Washington hostess Perle Mesta, Miller transformed the way the Post reported on people, politics and parties in the capital during her seven years as society editor at the paper.

During World War II, she refocused the paper’s society coverage more toward volunteers, military life and behind-the-scenes war efforts. At the Post, and later as editor of the magazine Diplomat from 1954 to 1966, she was credited with furthering the careers of women in journalism.

Born and raised in Texas, Miller graduated from high school at 15 and the University of Texas at 19. She married and moved to New York, where she started a career as a freelance writer. She and her husband soon moved to Washington, where she joined the staff of the Post in 1934. After leaving the newspaper, she wrote a syndicated column on Washington life.