Terry E. Miller, 82, of Middletown, MD, passed from this life on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at Frederick Health Hospital in Frederick, Md. generally against his will but on his own terms. People have described him as one of the kindest, friendliest, most generous people they’ve known.
Terry was born Oct. 31, 1943 to the late John Franklin Miller and Hattie Belle (Zimmerman) Miller in Frederick. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1961 and went on to an adventureful 43+-year career (he could tell you down to the month and day) with Potomac Edison Power Company, with six years service in the U.S. Army Reserves along the way. He spent many a stormy night on call with Potomac Edison, ready to respond to outages, and bragged about never taking a sick day in 40 years.

One of Terry’s lifelong passions was volunteer fire service. Following in the footsteps of his father, he became a volunteer firefighter with United Steam Fire Engine Company No. 3 at age 17 and was its oldest living active member at 65 years of service. He was weeks away from being recognized for his achievement at the annual company banquet in February. Terry served faithfully in numerous elected and appointed roles in his prime, including Chief Pipeman, Chief Hose Director, Lieutenant, Extra Driver, Substitute Driver, and as a member of the Board of Directors. He also represented the company as a Delegate to the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. In recognition of his dedication, Terry was named Most Active Fireman in 1961. 

Daughter Cindy and son Scott both remember learning to shoot pool at the firehouse, and son Scott had fun making laps, climbing the long staircase to slide down the pole. Long after he stopped actively fighting fires, Terry wore scanners on his hip, and later his phone, until just days before he died. Old fire calls were some of his final memories. Terry was also an avid trap and skeet shooter. Every Wednesday night and Saturday morning for decades, he could be found at Tuscarora Gun Club, where he was a life member, for club shoots and meetings. He was a regular participant in the Tristate Winter League and many Kanawha and Tuscarora competitions over the years, winning the 1989 Frederick County Trap Shooting Championship (among others, likely). He “romanced” wife Virginia into joining his favorite (and expensive) hobby, and the two shot together for many years, until sub-zero temperatures at the Mt. Airy Winter League shoot led her to hang up her shotgun. 

He taught his daughter, son Scott, and grandchildren Mason and Bailee to shoot as well - getting Bailee her first gun, a “Pink Camo Mossberg 410.” He was also a lifetime member of Frederick County Fish and Game Protection Association and enjoyed biweekly steak dinners there with son Scott until just weeks before he passed. Terry also loved hunting and fishing. He met Virginia hunting on her family’s farm in Frederick with her brother, the late Walter Offutt. In the early years, the family spent many weekends camping in the tri-state area and fishing on the Potomac River. Cindy cherishes memories of her father teaching her to cast at Hickory Run campground lake, put worms on hooks, and on dislodge fishhooks (from the fish, that is) with her bare hands. Scott was excited to go out dove and squirrel hunting with Terry, hearing those familiar words, “You got to be still, Son".

Along his life’s journey, Terry became a favorite “dance Dad” at Bettie Jane’s Center of Dance Art, taxiing Cindy to weekly classes until she could drive and helping backstage at annual dance recitals for nearly three decades. Through years (and years) of dance recitals, piano lessons, choir concerts, high school musicals, and even community theatre in just the last three years, Terry was his daughter’s biggest fan. He also took tremendous (if nervous) pride watching Scott race 3-wheelers and motorcycles, and though he worried, he never said “no” and let Scott find his way. Later in life, Terry was grandson Mason’s biggest cheerleader from the good seats behind home plate, and had no problem correcting the umpire when Mason was pitching, calling balls and strikes. “Granddad” also enjoyed watching talented granddaughter Lynsey dance onstage with Bettie Jane’s and play in band concerts, and loved watching granddaughter Bailee shoot bows in the backyard. In the way, way back, Virginia cheered Terry on at his weekly Potomac Edison bowling league matches, and they loved going with friends to the BYOB fire company dances about town - wherever live bands played. Later in life, they were avid annual cruisers, traveling to the Caribbean, New England, Bermuda and Alaska with friends. Terry was a member of the American Legion Post 11, the Frederick Elks Lodge 684, and Middletown AMVETS Post 9.

Terry is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Virginia Mae Miller; his children, Cindy M. (and Ed) Sabato, Scott A. (and Traci Underwood) Miller; three grandchildren, Lynsey (and Phil) Hershberger, Bailee (and Jacob) Nealon, and Mason Miller; three great-grandchildren, Paisley, Abigail, and Adeline Hershberger; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Elaine Bryant Miller and brothers Charles and Jerry Miller. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD. 

Friends are invited to join a service honoring Terry's life journey and transition at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at the funeral home, followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD. Rev. Tim May will officiate.

Flowers are welcome. Donations may be made to United Steam Fire Engine Company at usfe3.com.