MILLER, Amy Bale, 93, of Richmond, passed early Friday morning, March 19, 2010 at her home at Westminster Canterbury. She was born and raised in Staten Island, N.Y., by parents, Francis Albert Bale and Gertrude Parsons Bale. Her father was an executive with Socony Oil (ExxonMobil), and her mother taught piano at Carnegie Hall. Amy worked at General Foods Corporation on the team that tried without success to create a trademark character to compete with Betty Crocker at General Mills. In 1944, Amy's father died during a family vacation to Canada. Amy met Curtis Miller, a Mennonite farm boy turned sailor, at a church social. His ship was docked for a three-day pass in New York City. They corresponded during his WWII service in Adak, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska Territory. They married on March 30, 1946, and moved to Richmond, where Curtis worked for the General Mills Feed Store in Shockoe Bottom, transferring in 1964 to the Defense General Supply Center. Amy worked as a secretary at Bethany Place Baptist Church and New York Life Insurance. In 1975, she and Curtis were integrally involved with the founding of Theatre IV, the nonprofit Children's Theatre of Virginia. For 63 years she was a member of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. Amy was preceded in death by her honored mother, Gertrude, who lived with the family in Bon Air until her death in 1968; and her cherished husband, Curtis, who died in 1983. Amy is survived by two loving sons and their families: C. Glenn Miller, Kim S. Miller, Sarah M. Joyce, and Ethan C. Miller of Raleigh, N.C.; and Bruce C. Miller, Terrie Powers Miller, Hannah P. Miller and Curtis W. Miller of Richmond. A memorial service will be conducted in the Westminster Canterbury Chapel, 1600 Westbrook Ave., at 2 p.m. on Monday. Memorial contributions may be made to The Curtis and Amy Miller Fund at Theatre IV, 114 W. Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 23220, or the charity of your choice.
Published in Richmond Times-Dispatch from March 20 to March 21, 2010