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News - Charles William "Chuck" Miller, 29 August 2010
GEORGETOWN, Texas – 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, Ohio. Chuck took off from Georgetown Airport on Aug. 12 to attend his Norwalk High School reunion and visit relatives. He was flying back to Georgetown on Aug. 19 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 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, S.D. 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, Ariz. 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, S.D. where his only daughter was born. He left the Air Force to pursue his PhD at The Ohio State University (OSU).
While attending 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, N.Y. 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 that year for Christmas received a Honda Gold Wing 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, Fla. 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, N.J.; aunt, Vivian Haynes of Norwalk, Ohio; nephews and nieces, Brian and Christopher Millar of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Beth Revey of Jamestown, N.C., Johanna (Mrs. Jeff) Graham of Somerville, N.J., 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, Colo.; 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 his airplane's name), his parents, Carl William and Treva DeVer (Stout) Miller, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Maebelle and Paul Millar.
Donations may be made to a favorite charity or the Civil Air Patrol (Apollo Composite Squadron, Georgetown, Texas).
The family plans to hold a memorial service in Reynoldsburg, Ohio in mid-September to celebrate Chuck's life.
The family wishes to thank their 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. Special thanks to Maj. Cheri Fischler, CAP 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.
Staff writer, Norwalk Reflector, Ohio