IRVINGTON—Charles Gilbert Miller Jr., born August 17, 1922, in Washington, D.C., died at the age of 101 on July 4, 2024, at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, Irvington.
Charlie was employed in many capacities, including corporate executive vice president of Richmond Battery and Ignition Corp., later RBI Corp., a company founded by his father in 1923.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nellie-Moss Newsome Miller, the mother of his three children. Also predeceasing him are a second wife, Marylou Coghill Miller; and a third wife, Harding McClelland Miller. In addition, he was predeceased by his parents, Charles Gilbert Miller and Glennie Tomlinson Miller; a sister, Christy Lou M. Russell; and a brother, William T. Miller.
He is survived by two sons, Charles G. Miller III (Nancy) of Virginia Beach and Robert B. Miller (Janice) of Mechanicsville; and a daughter, Joanne L. Miller of Moseley. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Jonathan C. Miller, Bryan A. Miller (Matthew) and Kate M. Brady (Kyle); and four great-grandchildren, C. Bryson Miller, Ella R. Brady, Quinn M. Brady and Callum R. Brady. Charlie is also survived by a sister, Glennie M. Brown of Richmond.
Charlie retired to the Northern Neck in 1985, where he enjoyed being near the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and did much of his boating until age and the health of his second wife led them to move to the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury retirement community in 1998.
He received all of his public schooling in Richmond, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1940. Charlie attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now Virginia Tech, graduating in 1947, officially a member of the class of 1944, after serving his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Later he returned to active duty with the Marines for the Korean War, after which he left the Corps with the rank of major.
He was active at a Methodist church in every community where he lived. Most recently he was a member of White Stone United Methodist, where his devotion to the Cemetery Corporation and its Perpetual Care Endowment Fund will long be remembered.
His love of the water gave him opportunities to serve as an officer in the Virginia Beach Power Squadron, the Fishing Bay Yacht Club, the Broad Bay Sailing Association and the Rappahannock River Yacht Club. He was active in many Masonic organizations, including Blue Lodges #40 in Richmond, #88 in Kilmarnock, the Scottish Rite in Richmond and Eastern Star in Kilmarnock.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends consider memorial contributions to the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Employee Christmas Fund, 132 Lancaster Drive, Irvington, VA, 22480.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury on August 3. Business casual dress is requested.
