Charles Roland Miller

The family of Charles (known as Chuck or Red) Roland Miller, formerly of Newport News, VA, sadly announce his passing on January 18, 2022, at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, MD after a brief illness. He was a month away from his 90th birthday. Born on February 23, 1932, in Baltimore, MD, Charles spent many of his childhood years at the Sipes Orchard Home in Conover, NC where he learned agricultural skills. Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1951 and graduated from Newton-Conover High School a few months later in May 1951. He was deployed to Japan with the 45th Infantry Division. During the Korean War, Charles was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries which affected his health during the rest of his life. At his retirement, Charles was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit. His career duty stations included Fort Eustis, VA; Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks, AK; Camp Red Cloud, Uijeongbu, South Korea; Fort Jackson, SC; The Pentagon, Arlington, VA; U.S. Army V Corps Headquarters, Frankfurt, Germany; and Fort Meade, MD. Charles retired in 1980 as a Command Sergeant Major after 30 years of honorable service, garnering many awards and commendations. Charles and Pearl Lee (Hall) were married in 1953 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Granite Falls, NC. They were married just shy of 63 years. Charles and Pearl Lee were devoted to each other. Charles lovingly cared for Pearl Lee and nursed her during the last few years of her life. Charles attended a three-week long Billy Graham Crusade in Richmond, VA in 1956, which was a significant event for him. Charles and Pearl Lee were founding members of Lee Hall Baptist Church in Lee Hall, VA. They were also active members of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Denbigh, VA, in the 1960s and then again in retirement, where Charles served as a deacon and as an audio/video director. Charles had many interests. Using his gardening skills, Charles planted and tended a vineyard. The family made delicious jam from the vineyard’s grapes. Charles’ garden was known for a bountiful crop of vegetables. Also skilled in the kitchen, he loved to bake fruitcake and German Chocolate cake for family gatherings. Charles will be remembered for his delicious stuffing and for preparing the holiday turkey and soups. He maintained a significant collection of reel-to-reel recordings, mainly classical and jazz. He was an avid reader of political history and was a few credits short of earning his degree in History. Charles was a dedicated father and accompanied his sons on camping trips with the Boy Scouts. The family enjoyed memorable trips together in the United States and Europe. Charles was predeceased by his wife Pearl Lee, his mother Elizabeth Temple Miller, his father William Howard Miller, brothers, James Miller, Louis (Peggy) Miller, Freddy Miller, and William Miller. Charles is survived by his two sons, Christopher (Judith) of Virginia, and Douglas (Rosalva) of Maryland, and by his seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Lucy, Stephanie, Victoria (James) Lanham, Christianne (Daniel) Lynch, and Jonathan, and by two great-grandchildren, Josie and Johnny. Also surviving are Charles’ siblings, Alfred (Freida) Miller, Marion (William) Dockery, and Rita Moneymaker, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 2 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m., at Leonardtown Baptist Church, 23520 Hollywood Rd, Leonardtown, MD, with Pastor Jeremy Rhoton officiating. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Donations can be made in Charles’ honor to: Sipe's Orchard Home at www.sipesorchardhome.org, 4431 County Home Road, Conover, NC 28613; or to Redeeming Grace Baptist Church Building Project at www.RGBCMD.org, 20945 Great Mills Rd., Suite 101, Lexington Park, MD 20653. The family expresses gratitude to the staff of The Hermitage At Solomons for their care and to The Hermitage residents for their faithful friendship.