Charles M. Miller

Lakeland-Charles M. Miller, age 95 of Lakeland, FL passed away on January 24, 2018. He was born in Mt. Lebanon, PA on September 19, 1922. He received a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the U. of Michigan. In World War II he graduated from Officer Candidate’s School and served in the Okinawa Campaign with the United States Tenth Army. A former Westinghouse Electric Corporation Executive, Mr. Miller was part of the group that designed and constructed the propulsion plant for the world’s first nuclear submarine, Nautilus and the first nuclear electric power generating plant. He served as Corporate Director of Quality Control, and managed the construction of Titan III-C solid rocket motor cases for the Air Force. He wrote a number of scientific papers on the subjects of the Quality Control and Non-Destructive Testing of critical nuclear plant components and assisted in the training of high level Navy personnel in those matters. Active in affairs of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. he was an Elder and was Moderator of Washington (PA) Presbytery in 1976. Retiring from active industrial life, he created a business restoring antique furniture and worked on more than 3,000 antiques for private collectors, dealers and museums, including the National Park Service. A skilled craftsman, in a second retirement, he concentrated on making antique furniture reproductions in the Chippendale and Federal styles. Exhibiting in the Florida State Fair Fine Woodworking competition, he won several first place and best of show awards. Among woodworkers he is known for a number of technical and instructional papers in this field and often lectured to woodworking clubs in central Florida. The Millers became residents of The Florida Presbyterian Homes complex on Lakeland’s Lake Hunter in 1990. There he continued to pursue his many activities, among which was membership in The Westminster Presbyterian Church. An avid Bridge and pool player, he often taught and lectured on these and other subjects. His extensive reading concentrated on the classics and he presented reviews of these from time to time. Surviving are his wife of 74 years, Lucille J. of Lakeland, a son, Charles T. of Canonsburg, PA, and three daughters, Kathryn MacLean, Janice Hunt, Leticia Miller and granddaughters, Rachel and Emily Hunt.

Charles M. Miller

September 19, 1922 - January 24, 2018