Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Charles Lockett Miller ‘44

Commander Charles L. Miller, of Annapolis, MD died peacefully in his sleep on 13 May 2017. He was 96 years old. 

Charles was the son of Robert Nicholas Miller II, USNA ‘10; the brother of Robert Nicholas Miller III USNA ‘40; and father of James Russell Miller, USNA ‘75.

Charles was born 14 October 1920 to Nell Lockett and Robert Nicholas Miller II (’10) in Kerrville, Texas. At an early age his family moved from Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana. 
He attended Gulf Coast Military Academy Gulfport, Mississippi, and then Alcée Fortier High School where he was President of his class, graduating in 1938.

Charles was the New Orleans President of the Junior Red Cross at age 16, and as the representative, traveled to Washington where he was elected President of the National Junior Red Cross. 
He attended Tulane University with an awarded scholarship for one year. Upon receiving an appointment to the US Naval Academy, he joined his older brother, Robert N. Miller USNA ’40. 

At the Naval Academy, Charles served as Battalion Commander, and was a two-letter athlete in Soccer and Track (He was an outstanding pole vaulter). While at the Academy he received a Letter of Commendation from the Superintendent at Graduation, 7 June 1943 for, “…midshipmen having contributed most by their officer like qualities and positive character to the development of naval sprit and loyalty within the Regiment.”

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1943 with the accelerated Class of 1944, and a tour of duty in the Pacific, he attended Pre-flight School at Iowa City, Iowa, and then went to Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas where he received his Aviator Wings in 1946. Upon completion of carrier training in Jacksonville, Fl, he was assigned to the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and flew the F4U Corsair. 
During his flight training, he met the love of his life, Betty (Elizabeth Begley), from Washington, DC, when she went to visit her sister, Barbara, in Jacksonville, FL. Barbara had just married a classmate of Charlie’s, James L. Holbrook. Charlie, after first being introduced to Betty, remarked to Jim after that first meeting, “I’m going to marry that girl,” and indeed they did. Betty and Charlie were married at the base Chapel in Jacksonville, Fl, 15 December 1945, and have been married for seventy-two years.

During his twenty-year naval career, his sea tours included: USS Santa Fe (CL 63), USS Roosevelt (CVA 42) with VF -42; USS Wasp (CVA 18) with VF – 171; USS Ranger, CVA-61, flying missions in the Korean War; and USS Shangri La. (CVA 38).  His shore assignments included: Flight Training Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, FL; Naval Air Training  Flight Training Command; NAS Patuxent River- Operations Department and Ground Control Approach (GCA) Officer; Caribbean Sea Frontier/COM 10 - Flag Lieutenant; Administrative Aide and Flag Secretary to the Superintendent USNA; Executive Officer of Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron (FASROPN) 5, NAS Oceana, VA.; Naval War College, Newport, RI as a student and then Instructor, during which time he attended Boston College and earned an MA in International Relations; and his final assignment as Commander, Configuration Manager, and the F-4/Sparrow III Weapon System in Bureau of Naval Weapons.
Retiring from the Navy in 1965, he worked twenty years at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Aerospace and Electronics System Division, as Director Plans, Programs and Integrated Logistics Support for AWG-10/11/12 radar systems.

Upon retirement from Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1986, he and Betty were able to spend more time playing golf at their home course at the U.S. Naval Academy, and at many other courses during their travels around the world. Charlie also served as Treasurer of the Maryland Interclub Seniors Golf Association (MISGA) for the USNA Golf Club. He also served as the USNA ’44 Class Treasurer for a number of years. He was a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club and The New Providence Club. Charlie’s other interests included ushering at the Naval Academy Chapel, a lifelong passion for Bridge, tending to his rose garden, birdwatching, enjoying many years at their property at Rehoboth Beach, DE, and of course, watching his three adoring grandchildren grow up. 

Charles is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Begley Miller, of Ginger Cove, and two sons: Charles L. Miller Jr., his wife Kristen Kidwell Miller, of Highlands, NJ; and their two sons, Andrew Lockett Miller of Los Angeles, CA, and Nicholas Kidwell Miller of New York, NY; and James Russell Miller (USNA ‘75), his wife, Patricia Matthews Miller, and their son James Russell Miller Jr. of Annapolis, MD. 

There will be an Inurnment at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association or to the Ginger Cove Foundation. Additional information will be made available on the George P. Kalas Funeral Home website. 
An announcement for the inurnment at the U.S. Naval Academy will be made at a later date. 

Please take a moment and leave a condolence or light a candle by using the link on the left.

CDR. Charles L. Miller, USN (Ret.)

CDR. Charles L. Miller, USN (Ret.)

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