Timothy Charles Milling

Timothy "Tim" Charles Milling, 65, of Troutdale, Virginia, died peacefully in Asheville, North Carolina on October 13, 2025, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was a native of Asheville and the son of the late James Reaves Milling and Norma Boie Milling.
Tim was most at home in the natural world. He earned a master's degree in biology from Appalachian State University and worked as a wildlife biologist with many different organizations including the U.S. Forest Service and his own firm DTE Environmental. While employed with the Forest Service, he was part of a crew that received a Presidential Award for their work restoring red cockaded woodpecker habitats in the Francis Marion Forest in S.C. following devastation left by Hurricane Hugo. He also did extensive work with saw-whet owls, bats, and other species.
He lived and worked in many locales across the United States, but he always loved returning to the beauty of Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and Virginia.
Tim was a standout soccer player in middle school at Country Day School, high school at T.C. Roberson, and later at Brevard College and Warren Wilson College. He was also an avid rock climber, backpacker, canoer, hiker, whitewater rafter, and camper.
He took great delight establishing annual traditions with his children to go to area farms to pick apples and choose Christmas trees. He also enjoyed going to a variety of festivals and naturalist rallies.
He is survived by his children, Ben Milling and Hannah Milling of Asheville; future daughter-in-law Annie Hetherington; a brother, Ted Milling and sister-in-law, Cindy Milling of Burlington; a stepsister, Pam Haynes of Waynesville; an aunt, Marlys Kitzman of Elgin, Minnesota; a nephew, Jaycen Milling; niece Mary Beth Milling; and step-nephew, Cassidy Haynes. He is also survived by multiple cousins in Minnesota and South Carolina.
A memorial service in celebration of the life of Tim Milling will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Nativity, 2425 Hendersonville Road, Arden, N.C., with Rev. Sean Barrett officiating.
Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, a conservation and green cemetery in Mills River, N.C. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable, casual clothing and sturdy closed-toe shoes if they plan to join the burial ceremony. Golf carts will be available at the cemetery to transport guests to the burial site.
For GPS directions to the cemetery, please use 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Turn onto Blessed Way at the Unity of the Blue Ridge Church sign and follow the road to the last parking lot on the left.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a conservation organization of one's choice, in honor of Tim's lifelong dedication to protecting the environment.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is in charge of arrangements.