Charles "Chuck" William Miller

Charles William Miller, 66, died tragically in an experimental, home built, private airplane crash August 19, 2010 in El Dorado, Arkansas. Chuck, a long time resident of Georgetown, Texas, was born in Norwalk, OH. Chuck took off from Georgetown Airport on August 12, 2010 to attend his Norwalk High School reunion and visit relatives. He was flying back to Georgetown on August 19, 2010 when a tailwind blew him off course which caused him to crash into a densely wooded area close to El Dorado’s airport. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) searched relentlessly for four days prior to the wreckage of his airplane being discovered.

Chuck was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association, American Vacuum Society, National Rifle Association, Texas Rifle Club, Austin Rifle Club, and Austin Ohio State University Alumni Association.

He graduated from Norwalk High School in Norwalk, Ohio; Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (where he met his wife, Suzy) with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota with a Master of Science in Chemistry and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio with a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry. He also attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio before he was called to duty in the US Air Force.

While Chuck was in the US Air Force he served as a munitions officer at Luke AFB, Arizona where his only son was born. He then changed his direction of service and became a navigator in KC-135 aircraft. During his time as a navigator he served during the Vietnam conflict flying support missions refueling the B-52 aircraft as they flew their missions. His final USAF base was at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota where his only daughter was born. He left the Air Force to pursue his PhD at The Ohio State University (OSU).

While he attended OSU he and his family resided in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, which was his wife’s hometown. The family returned to Ohio often to visit their numerous relatives and friends. He painted his airplane in OSU Buckeye colors, scarlet and gray.

He retired from International Business Machines (IBM) in Austin, Texas and Fishkill, New York and Freescale in Austin where he worked as a quality assurance scientist. Chuck was a dedicated employee who used his extensive knowledge and problem solving skills to full advantage.

Adventure was an important word to him. After his daughter, Julie, was killed in a tragic car accident in Austin, Texas, he decided he would start doing the things he had always dreamed about, but had never done. He wanted to get his private pilot’s license and while he was working on that, decided to build his own airplane and purchased a Van’s Aircraft kit. He also got his motorcycle license and received a Honda Gold Wing for Christmas that year from his wife. Another of his great loves was auto racing. He was an avid NASCAR fan and also enjoyed Indy, Formula One, and dirt track racing. His desire to drive a racecar was satisfied by attending racing schools at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), Texas; Mid-Ohio Race Track, Ohio; and Sebring, Florida. He drove NASCAR, Indy Open Wheel, and specially designed racecars around the tracks and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of his time. His son, Carl, shares his love of racing and has also driven at TMS and Mid-Ohio.

He was a dedicated family man who cared for them with great devotion. His personality was strong with a great sense of humor.

Weekends in the fall were spent watching college and professional football and automobile racing. He also enjoyed watching “The Iron Chef – Japanese” cooking shows. He enjoyed cooking because he considered recipes as formulas using his scientific skills.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 43 years, Suzy of Georgetown, Texas; son, Carl C. Miller of Austin,Texas; sister, Carol (Emery) Revey of North Brunswick, New Jersey; aunt, Vivian Haynes of Norwalk, Ohio; nephews and nieces, Brian and Christopher Millar of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Beth Revey of Jamestown, North Carolina, Johanna (Mrs. Jeff) Graham of Somerville, New Jersey, and Jim (Jessica) Revey of Cincinnati, Ohio; cousins, Cindy McFadden, Sandy Miller, Betty Horning, Tom Hall and Jake Hall of Norwalk, Ohio, and Linda Smith of Parker, Colorado; many friends and former classmates; and his dear black cats, Sabrina and Jake.

Chuck was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Julie Ann (who was the inspiration for the name of his airplane), his parents, Carl William and Treva DeVer (Stout) Miller, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Maebelle and Paul Millar.

The family will hold Memorial Services for Chuck Miller at the Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church, 1636 Graham Rd., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 on Friday, September 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a light luncheon served by the church ladies following the service. The services will be conducted by Pastor Maxine Smith-Pierce of the Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church and the Reverend Dr. Donald L. Fritz, retired pastor of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Reynoldsburg. This will be a celebration of Chuck’s life. He has traded the wings of his much loved Miss Julie Ann airplane for Angel’s wings and has joined his daughter, Julie; his parents, Carl and Treva Miller; his best friend, Jim Short, and many other loved ones who have gone on to another life in heaven. Chuck’s wife, Suzy, is a Lifetime Member and Corresponding Secretary for the Reynoldsburg-Truro Historical Society, Reynoldsburg, OH and a Reynoldsburg native.

Friends called 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 at the Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628. Services were Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Chaplain Dean Hamilton officiating. Interment followed at the IOOF Cemetery in Georgetown following the service. Friends came to the house after the interment ceremony. Donations may be made to a favorite charity or the Civil Air Patrol (Apollo Squadron, 404 Terminal Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628).

The family wishes to thank our numerous friends and relatives for their tremendous support and prayers in addition to the many rescue workers in the Civil Air Patrol, FAA, and Air Force Rescue team and others who searched for his missing airplane. We would like to extend special thanks to Cheri Fischler for informing us of the progress of the search and crash site investigation and also to Phil Cline and the guys at the Lockhart, Texas Airport for their assistance with construction of Chuck’s cherished airplane.

God’s control tower called Chuck in for his final landing and he exchanged the wings of his Miss Julie Ann RV-7A airplane for angel’s wings. We will miss his strength, dependability, and his love of adventure.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.