Personnel

MILLER, Charles Lewis (Age 85) Passed away on October 18, 2010 in Spokane Valley, WA after a brave battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his entire family. Chuck was born on November 25th, 1924 in Spokane. He attended school and graduated from Rogers High School in 1942. Upon graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps and served as a Tail Gunner and crewman in B-17 bombers. While volunteering to cover another Tail Gunner's mission in to Germany, his plane was severely damaged. He was able to escape before the plane blew up because he was located in the tail section. He parachuted onto the German countryside, and was able to evade the German Army for a period of time until he was captured just outside of a German Hamlet. He spent approximately two months as a POW until the British Army liberated him. Charlie was a member of the 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron, and was also a member of the 100th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Squadron. He worked at Westinghouse Repair as a Purchasing Agent/Customer Service Rep for 20+ years. He spent his retirement years doing wood working and refinishing furniture for family and friends, gardening, and spending time at the lake place. He had a favorite cat he called “Smoky” and two favorite little dogs that he took on walks before his illness. Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Charles Lewis Miller, his mother Rose Ford Miller and his stepmother Ella Miller. He is survived by his wife of 35 years Marjorie P. Miller; sons, Gary Miller (Glenda) and Michael Miller of Spokane; five stepchildren, David Hardy (Marcia) of Spokane, Melody Barnes of Missoula, Montana, Bernard Barnes of Spokane Valley, Kelly Hoffmeister (Mark ) of Spokane, and James Barnes of Beaverton, Oregon; two grandchildren, Charlie Miller and Janelle Fegan of Spokane; seven step-grandchildren, Melissa, Shannon, and Caitlin Dempsey, Madeleine Sells of Missoula, MT, Alexandra McNairy of Portland, OR, Jordan McNairy of Spokane, and Daniel Hardy of Spokane; stepsister, Karen (Donald) Phillips of Spokane Valley and stepbrother, Kevin Thurber; one great-granddaughter, DeLaney Fegan, and expected great-grandson, Charlie Lewis Miller. Visitation for Charlie will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2010 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Rd, Spokane Valley, WA. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held on Friday, October, 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Spokane Memorial Gardens, 5909 S. Cheney-Spokane Rd. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 in honor of Charles Miller.