Dr. Charles H. Miller, Jr.

Charles (“Chuck”) H. Miller Jr., age 90, of Hilton Head, S.C., passed away peacefully at Broad Creek Care Center on January 4, 2021. Chuck was born on October 9, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Charles and Ruth Miller. He grew up in Drexel Hill, Pa., until age 13, when the family moved to Hammond, Ind., where he graduated from high school in 1948. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1951 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Northwestern School of Dentistry in 1955. He was a member of Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity.

Upon graduation he became a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps and was stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala., home of Army aviation. There he met the love of his life, Rochelle Marie Payne of Dothan, Ala., whom he married on July 7, 1956, after a short courtship. The following year they moved to Alexandria, Va., where they set up a dental practice in the Mount Vernon area. It was there that they were blessed with three daughters, Brooke, Paige and Leigh.

Chuck was president and board member of the Alexandria Dental Society; a member of the Metropolitan Washington Dental Health Council; executive board member of the Northern Virginia Dental Society; Mount Vernon Bank and Trust board member, administrative board member of the Aldersgate Methodist Church; and a member of the Alexandria Rotary Club where he had twenty years of perfect attendance and was Rotarian of the Year in 1989–90.

In 2000, Chuck and Roe moved to their home in Sea Pines; they had vacationed on Hilton Head Island since 1961. He was an early volunteer dentist at VIM, administrator of the Forum Club (a group of Hilton Head leaders), President of Gull Pointe POA for three years, member of Sea Pines Country Club, and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Chuck had a private pilot’s license. He enjoyed tennis, boating, worldwide cruising and traveling — especially to St. Thomas every winter for 24 straight years.

Chuck felt that integrity and character were two attributes he constantly strived for.

He is predeceased by one daughter, Paige Payne Miller, and his very special wife, Rochelle. Their marriage was an example of total unconditional love. They were best friends and partners who supported and balanced each other in every way. He is survived by two daughters, Leigh Miller Pyle of Portola Valley, Calif., and Brooke Anderson of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Leigh’s husband, Brian; and grandchildren Samantha (13), Cameron (8) and Brandon (7).

Services will be private. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date, once it is safe to convene. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Chuck’s name to Volunteers in Medicine Clinic on Hilton Head: https://vimclinic.www.keithfuneral.com/obituary/chuck-miller