Harris C. Miller
July 11, 1918 ~ July 5, 2021
Harris Cleveland Miller passed away on July 5, 2021 at the age of 103. We grieve but take comfort in the fact he had a wonderful fulfilling life and was loved by so many. Harris was born 1918 in Wollaston, MA. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
He started his career in Niagara Falls, NY, at Hooker Chemical Company, later known as Occidental Chemical Corporation. He worked there for 44 years until being transferred to Washington DC, as Director of Government Affairs. After retiring from Occidental, Harris dabbled with real estate for several years which he gave up to pursue his true passion...painting.
He became well recognized in the Virginia area for his artistic skills and was very active in the Vienna Arts Society. He was also a member of the Virginia Watercolor Society, Art League and Potomac Valley Watercolorists. He participated in numerous juried shows and his paintings have been exhibited in Vienna,VA, Old Greenwich, CT, Niagara Falls, NY and Wolfeboro, NH. Perhaps his best-known work, his mural in downtown Vienna, on Mill Street, continues to be enjoyed and admired by all that pass by. Harris was a long-time member of Vienna Presbyterian Church, where he took an active role. He was also a member of Westwood Country Club where he spent countless hours enjoying golf with his friends and family.
Harris is predeceased by his wife Mary Clark Miller and daughter Lynn H. Miller. He is survived by his two sons Mark P. Miller of Denver, CO and Steven C. Miller of Arlington and his two grandchildren, Kelly Christine Miller and Christopher Clark Miller. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St NE, Vienna, VA. Share a memory with the family at www.moneyandking.com
He started his career in Niagara Falls, NY, at Hooker Chemical Company, later known as Occidental Chemical Corporation. He worked there for 44 years until being transferred to Washington DC, as Director of Government Affairs. After retiring from Occidental, Harris dabbled with real estate for several years which he gave up to pursue his true passion...painting.
He became well recognized in the Virginia area for his artistic skills and was very active in the Vienna Arts Society. He was also a member of the Virginia Watercolor Society, Art League and Potomac Valley Watercolorists. He participated in numerous juried shows and his paintings have been exhibited in Vienna,VA, Old Greenwich, CT, Niagara Falls, NY and Wolfeboro, NH. Perhaps his best-known work, his mural in downtown Vienna, on Mill Street, continues to be enjoyed and admired by all that pass by. Harris was a long-time member of Vienna Presbyterian Church, where he took an active role. He was also a member of Westwood Country Club where he spent countless hours enjoying golf with his friends and family.
Harris is predeceased by his wife Mary Clark Miller and daughter Lynn H. Miller. He is survived by his two sons Mark P. Miller of Denver, CO and Steven C. Miller of Arlington and his two grandchildren, Kelly Christine Miller and Christopher Clark Miller. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St NE, Vienna, VA. Share a memory with the family at www.moneyandking.com
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I painted with Harris in Maine. What a delightful gentleman and accomplished Artist. He also cooked great lobsters!!
In about 1986 or so, after spending a couple of years in politics, I joined the government affairs staff at Occidental Chemical’s Washington D.C. office. Harris was retiring, his second was being promoted, and I was being hired as the new guy. Our paths in the office overlapped by just a couple of months—just long enough to become acquainted. My career took me out of town and I returned to Vienna 20 years ago and our family joined Westwood CC. On my first day at the club, I ran into Harris and we renewed our friendship from that day forward—in the gym and the pool and the dining room. What a gentle soul and nice man! He always had a smile for everyone. A nicer person there has never been. Brian Munroe
I met Harris at his 100th birthday party. I also paint and we became fast friends. I visited him in his home several times and we had lunch at WW occasionally. I purchased one of his watercolors and had it framed. We now live in Florida and it hangs in our home. He was a very special friend to me and will always cherish the time I was able to visit with him. Blessings to his family member. Linda Adkins
Harris brought beauty and joy to this world for 103 years! And he continues to beautify our home, as we are blessed to have three of his paintings adorning our walls. We will miss him greatly, yet we rejoice as we know he is now truly home.
My father was good friends with Harris. Dad drove him to ROMEOS on Saturday mornings and he gifted Dad with a beautiful watercolor as “payment”. It’s a beautiful painting – he was incredibly talented. I will think of him when I see a beautiful sunset; imagining he painted it from heaven.
Harris was a lovely man and a wonderful artist. I will miss seeing him at the Vienna Arts Society gatherings. May his memory be a blessing. Charlotte Potashnik