Harold Lister Miller

Hal was born on January 5, 1930 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the late James Fred Miller and Flora Mae (Lister) Miller. He grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. From ages four to six, Hal lived with his Mema, Julia J. Lister. It was on her farm that he formed some of his happiest childhood memories. He attended Spartanburg High School and graduated in 1947. Harold enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served on active duty until 1952, including 14 months in the Korean War. He is one of the “Frozen Chosin” who survived the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. During his time of service, Harold was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with One Bronze Service Star, the Marine Good Conduct Medal (1st award), the Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.

In October of 1954, Hal met the love of his life, Ruth Marye Wall. Hal and Ruth were married at St Mary’s in Alexandria, Va on June 11, 1955. They enjoyed many nights out together bowling and dancing. Hal’s favorite dance was the Pennsylvania Polka. Someone once told them “You are the only two people I know that can dance without having your feet on the floor.” Hal and Ruth bought their first house in Fairfax County, VA where they lived for six years. They moved to Falls Church, VA in 1964 where Greenway Blvd became the ideal environment for Hal and Ruth to continue to raise their six children. They loved being surrounded by friendly neighbors, and together they created countless memories throughout the years. Falls Church, with its small town feel and its close-knit community spirit, inspired Hal. He knew he had more to offer to the place that had become his home.

After working as an assistant manager in a lumber yard, Hal and Ruth decided to start their own Lumber Brokerage that they ran for 30 years inside their home. Running a business from home gave Hal the freedom to branch out and serve the citizens of Falls Church in various capacities. In 1966, Hal became interested in volunteer work and joined the Vienna Teen Council. It was there he met a local politician and began doing some campaign work. He was then asked to join the Board of Directors for “Citizens For A Better City” which created in Hal an interest in City Council proceedings. Harold won a seat on the Falls Church City Council in 1971 and served until 1980. Simultaneously, in 1974, the City Council unanimously elected Harold Miller as Mayor of Falls Church. He held the office of Mayor for 3 terms until 1980.

As his first official act as Mayor, Harold helped establish the first section of the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Bike Trail. He cut the ribbon on Sept 7th, 1974, when the first mile and a-half bike ride through Falls Church took place. Over 50 years later, that trail, the former roadbed of the W&OD Railroad, runs 45 miles long from Shirlington, VA to Purcellville, VA and is known as “the skinniest park in Virginia.”

As Mayor, Harold’s aim was to “reflect the attitudes of the people, and lead the City along paths reflecting their aspirations,” One of Harold’s many accomplishments included joining with the Falls Church Community Services Council to persuade the owners of Winter Hill housing to set aside 80 one-bedroom units as federally funded housing for Seniors.

On a more entertaining note, anyone who has ever lived in Falls Church knows that Memorial Day has always been a special day for its citizens, with a 3K race, parade, and festival. As Mayor, Harold enjoyed bringing citizens and local officials together in jollity, by climbing into a dunk tank and allowing people to “Dunk the Mayor.” For many years, it was a Miller family tradition to participate in the 3K race, whether by walking, running, or being the youngest grandchild in a stroller.

In 1975, Harold became a member of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and became its Chairman in 1977. His leadership on the board brought forth the following accomplishments: Harold helped negotiate the Metro rail system coming into Falls Church, he helped Metro to establish their own Police Force with regular police powers in 3 major jurisdictions, he convinced Metro to change seat and interior materials in both the buses and rail cars to prevent death by toxic fumes in the event of fire, and he helped focus the region on the need to address water supply problems which led to a new approach of interconnections of water systems rather than building new dams along the Potomac River

In 1977, Harold received the Civil Defense Award from the Society of American Military Engineers for emergency disaster planning in the Washington area.

In 1980 Harold ran for U.S Congress for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Although he ran and lost against Frank Wolf in the primary election, they later became friends, with Hal attending almost every election party thereafter.

In 1989 Harold became an elected State official as Commissioner of the Revenue of Falls Church. He served 3 terms, for a total of 12 years. While Commissioner of the Revenue, Harold modernized the office computer system, which improved Falls Church’s finances and strengthened citizen accountability. His office also set up a process that integrated the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Taxation which allowed tax refunds to be issued more promptly. Hal took “pride in the fact that (their) office treated taxpayers as customers with courtesy.”

Outside of his official service to the City of Falls Church, Hal also dedicated his time to his Church, St James Catholic Church, and to the broader community. In 1971 Hal helped to start and lead the Community of God’s Love Prayer Group. This prayer group still meets today and is known as The Community on FYRE. Hal was also a Eucharistic Minister. In the 1980s he was on a search committee that found the property for Aurora House, a home for at risk teenage girls in Falls Church. Hal was an honorary Life Member of the Knights Of Columbus and a member of the International Order of the Hoo-Hoo. When Hal retired in 2001, Hal and Ruth moved to Winchester, VA where they were daily Communicants of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and were members of the Divine Mercy Cenacle. Hal also became involved with local military veterans during his 20 years in Winchester.

Known as both Grandpa and Pop Pop, Hal’s 17 grandchildren and two great grandkids span six decades, and is the legacy he was the most proud of. Hal was actively involved in their lives, attending sporting events, graduations, birthday parties, and more. In the 1990s, Hal and Ruth owned a beach house in Nags Head, NC, where many family gatherings and memories were made. One thing about Hal that those close to him have always enjoyed, was his keen sense of humor and the ability he had to not only make you smile, but to laugh as well.

The list of Hal’s accomplishments in his life have been long, and even so, there is still more that we could continue to say about the person Hal was, and the character and leadership he embodied. He lived a long, fulfilling, incredible life. Those of us lucky enough to call him Dad, Grandpa, or Pop Pop, are so proud that we get to be a part of this one man’s legacy. There is a Hal sized hole on this earth that we will each do our best to fill.

Hal is survived by his children, Maureen (Alex) Gallagher-McLeod, Sharon (Tom) Brown, Kellie (Charles) Alpaugh, Melissa (Nick) George, Patricia “Trish” (Mari) Brebenel, James (Kathy) Miller. He leaves behind sixteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Hal is preceded in death by his loving wife, Ruth Marye Miller, his parents James Fred Miller and Flora Mae Lister Miller, his brothers James Fred Miller Jr and Thomas Pinckney (Eunice) Miller, his sister Marianna Miller, and by his granddaughter, Mary Miller.

Services for Harold will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at St Peter’s In The Woods Episcopal Church, 5911 Fairview Woods Drive, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 with Visitation at 10:00 am and a Memorial Service at 11:00am

Interment with Military Honors to follow at 12:00pm at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032

The family would like to thank Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg, and Mary Washington Hospice Care, for all their love and care for Hal and for their support of our family.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to DementiaMatters at PO Box C, White Post, VA 22663