Carroll E. Miller

Carroll E. Miller, 82, Founding Member of B/CS Hunting Retreiever Club, and a well-recognized outdoorsman and quiet authority on so much in life, passed away at his home in Somerville on Friday, April 27, 2012; five days from his 83rd birthday.

An identical twin in a family of seven children, Carroll was born in 1929 in Grand Chenier, Louisiana. Growing up, he and his identical twin, Carl, traipsed about the marshlands, speaking their own twin language, quite disconnected from the financial chaos of the world, doing what boys of that time and of that place did: hunting, fishing and trapping. He and Carl joined the United States Army Air Corps (Air Force) together at the age of 17, shortly after the conclusion of World War II. In the 1950’s Carroll and his family endured personal misfortune. While he was stationed in at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, Carroll lost his twin in a tragic hunting accident. Carroll suffered another tragedy in 1957 when his first wife, Joetta Agnes Piper, and their unborn child, were lost during childbirth. As testimony to his loyal and true character, each year Joetta’s mother, Helen, would receive a Mother’s Day bouquet from her former son-inlaw. This lasted until her death in 1999. Carroll met his second wife, Joanie Meartz, while stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan’s upper peninsula. Her sister Gloria and brother-in-law Billlured her from Chicago to meet a certain Tech Sergeant that they knew. After four months of dating, Tech Sergeant Miller unceremoniously proposed in the front seat of his ‘55 Chevrolet, “You think maybe you’d like to marry me?"

Later, he approached her father in the same utilitarian manner, “Mr. Meartz, I drive 403 miles one way for a date with your daughter. I think I ‘ought’a just marry her.” And so they did. That was 51 years ago this past October. Following his 20 years of service in the Air Force, the 36-year-old retiree began a new line of work with NASA’s Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) Program at Ellington Air Force Base. This Apollo-era program trained the likes of Neil Armstrong, first human to step onto the

moon’s surface, who reported that his mission would not have been successful without extensive training on the LLTVs. In 1979 as the Apollo Missions came to a close and the Space Shuttle program began its ascent, Miller returned to his country boy roots landing in Somerville, Texas, with his wife and daughter, Lisa. This was the beginning of the life that would define him in so many minds. From its start, Millercreek Kennels was well known for their successful retriever breeding and training, and as a professional dog handler, Carroll trained several hundred dogs and their owners. Most notably his own dog, “Sonny,” the first dog in history to ever hold dual championship titles in both the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.

To share his love of the sport, he and Joanie founded the Bryan/College Station Retriever Club in 1984. Carroll is survived by his wife, Joan Meartz Miller; daughter, Lisa Miller Kristof; siblings, Richard Miller, of The Woodlands; and Shirley Miller Dunham of Plano; 17 nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. A service to honor him and celebrate his life will

be held at 11 a.m. in College Station on Saturday, May 19, at Memorial Funeral Chapel. Just as Hemingway wouldn’t have wanted flowers nor would Miller. Those that would like to send their expressions of grief and condolences are asked to make a donation in Carroll’s name to the HRC Foundation that supports educational scholarships and worthwhile

animal health research projects at various universities and colleges. Please visit the foundation at www. huntingretrieverclub.org/foundovrview.htm