Donald C. Miller

Donald Cecil Miller of Chester, MD died Friday, September 24, 2004 at his home. He was 64. Donald was born in Hillsboro, VA the son of Nellie Mason and Kenzel Miller. Don moved to Fairhaven, MD where he completed high school at Southern Senior High. He then received a B.S. degree from Mount St. Mary''s College, Emmitsburg, MD. In the early 1960''s, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. After college, he spent his entire life in the marine industry, working at Tri-State Marine until the mid 1980''s. He was involved with managing the trailer department, powerboats and lastly sold the popular Hunter Sailboat line. He was a strong support to his wife, Pat, when she started her marine finance company in 1985 and gave unending support, ideas and labor to Anchor Finance. In her words, "I could not have done it without his help". From 1985 until his retirement in 2000, he was a well-known marine surveyor in the Annapolis Area - Beacon Marine Surveys, nicknamed "Buddy" by some family and close friends. One of the first members of S.A.M.S. - Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors. He was a friend and advisor to many boat brokers and dealers in the area, forever serving his clients with his knowledge and depth of experience in the purchase of their new vessel. He was best known for his love for his family, his pets (especially Harley these past few years), love of life, integrity and work ethics, sense of fairness, good humor, generosity, and an attitude that no job was too difficult. His greatest hobby was any kind of boating, always wanting to be on the Bay, followed by flying and riding his Harley.. He was diagnosed with metastases prostate cancer on September, 26, 1996. He fought long and hard to overcome the disease and live his life to the fullest. Known to his close family and friends as a gentle man, always kind, light hearted, determined, (but never to the detriment of others), loving, accepting, wonderful, and last but not least, "stubborn". Never give up and always seek your dreams - Since his cancer diagnoses, he followed his dreams to: Build a home on the Chesapeake Bay, become a private pilot and fly his Cessna 172 in the skies, ride his Harley Road King Classic - 6500 miles on an incredible journey through the American and Canadian Rockies, across Canada and down the West Coast. He touched the lives of many people and will always to be fondly remembered and missed by those who knew him. He would say, "Thank you to all the wonderful folks that helped me along the way on my journey. May you all have the wonderful life experiences that I had. Good night!!!" In addition to his beloved wife, Pat, he is survived by four children, Kevin A. Miller and his wife Peggy of Stevensville, MD, Martin E. Miller and his wife Carolyn of Emmitsburg, MD, James D. Buchholz and his wife Brandy of Queenstown, MD and Jennifer K. Miller of Reading, PA; sister, Sylvia Smith of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister-in-law, Barbara Cole of Maggie Valley, NC; grandchildren, Colleen, Shannon, J.D., Eric and Kendall. He was predeceased by a son, Eric R. Buchholz in May of 1991. Memorial services will be held at 1PM on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at Southwinds Point, Chester, MD. Friends and family may call on Sunday, September 26, 2004 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM and Monday, September 27, 2004 from 6-8PM at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD 21619, (410)643-2226. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins, P.O. Box 17046, Baltimore, MD 21298-0001 or Hospice of Queen Anne’s, Inc., 300 Del Rhodes Ave., Queenstown, MD 21658.