Obituary of Charles Eugene McMillan

The Reverend Charles Eugene McMillan died on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at the age of 83. Rev. McMillan was born July 30, 1933, in Wellsburg, WV, the son of George Bernard and Bessie Eva (Rice) McMillan. He graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1951 and then from Washington & Jefferson College in 1955. He and Mary Anne Crabtree were married in August that year and he attended Princeton Theological Seminary that fall, receiving a Masters of Divinity in 1958. Rev. McMillan was ordained by the Presbyterian Church and installed as minister of Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Corsica, PA and neighboring Roseville Chapel, where he served for over four years until December 1962. He received an endorsement from The Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel and joined the U.S. Army in January 1963 as a Chaplain. He retired after 20 years of service in February 1983. During his military career, Chaplain McMillan was stationed with his family in Ft. Devens, MA, Baumholder and Pirmasens, Germany, Fort Wadsworth, NY, and Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN. He served two separate unaccompanied tours in Thailand in 1966 and Vietnam in 1970. In his duty tours as Chaplain, he had assignments with base and field units, in staff positions at the U.S. Army Chaplain School and in support functions of Army reserve units. After his retirement from the Army as a Lt. Colonel in 1983, Rev. McMillan served for four years as Associate Director of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel ("PCCMP") located on the campus of the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC, and then as Director for the next twelve years, retiring in 2000. In that position, Rev. McMillan endorsed and worked with Presbyterian seminarians, military Chaplains in all branches of the armed services, and VA Chaplains. This job afforded him the opportunity to visit Chaplains stationed worldwide, and he was fortunate that his wife, Mary Anne, was able to join him on many of these trips. Upon retirement from PCCMP, Rev. McMillan served as interim minister for Willow Grove Presbyterian Church, Warminster Presbyterian Church, and Carmel Presbyterian Church, all located in southeastern Pennsylvania. Until the last six years, he continued his service as a Chaplain, receiving the Humanitarian Award from the Chapel for Four Chaplains for his service at Ground Zero in New York City, and serving as Chaplain on ships for a number of cruise lines. Rev. McMillan was known for his humility, kindness, compassion, and love of the Lord. Rev. McMillan enjoyed gardening and watching football, having played himself in both high school and college. Having taken up handball and racquetball while stationed in Thailand, he continued enjoying and competing in those sports into his later life. His primary passion was travelling and visiting family and friends, and ministering to others in need. He has visited all 50 states as well as numerous countries in six continents. A few of his favorite trips were a Holy Land trip in the late 1960's and a trip to China in the late 1990's. Rev. McMillan passed away peacefully at his residence in Rydal Park, PA and is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Anne (Crabtree) McMillan; three children: daughter Marla K. McMillan and Kelly Jensen of Maple Glen, PA; son David J. McMillan of Easthampton, MA, and son Charles (Chuck) A. McMillan of Clifton, NJ.; and five grandchildren: Kelsey K. Graham of Washington, DC, Logan L. Graham of Richmond, VA, Matthew M. Graham of Norfolk, VA, Jonathan M. Jensen of Boise, ID, and Hannah E. Jensen of Hatfield, PA. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in the Auditorium of Rydal Park, 1515 The Fairway, Rydal, PA. Friends will be received from 10:30 until the time of the service. Interment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel in memory of Chaplain Charles E. McMillan. Send contributions to: PCCMP at 4125 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016.