Dr. Floyd Evans Miller Jr.

January 31, 2021

Dr. Floyd “Punchy” Evans Miller, Jr., 84, transitioned on January 30, 2021, following an extended illness. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of two children born to the late Floyd E. Miller, Sr. and Thelma Wall Miller. Early in his life, the family relocated to Lawrenceville, Virginia. It was in this small town where he received his early formal education on the campus of Saint Paul’s College. The college was unique in a way, because during this time it included an elementary and high school where students received a first-class education, while being exposed to college life. Floyd was excited to attend school in a college environment, which created an eagerness to learn and excel in all his educational pursuits, particularly in the field of earth and planetary science. He received local, state, and national acclaim, and was recognized by his peers in the area of astronomy. Floyd began his professional career at East Suffolk High School, Suffolk, Virginia; and in 1964, he began teaching at the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (now Norfolk State University). He retired in 2007, after forty-three years of loyal service, as professor of astronomy and earth science, and planetarium director. He received his bachelor’s of science degree from Saint Paul’s College, master’s degree from Columbia University, and Ed.D. from Penn State University. Floyd was a sixty-seven-year member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He was initiated in 1953 at the Nu Psi chapter at Virginia State College and was later a member of Epsilon Gamma chapter, Saint Paul’s College. He served as graduate advisor at Nu chapter at Penn State University and was a graduate chapter member of Alpha Iota chapter, Suffolk, Virginia and Zeta Iota chapter in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served with distinction. Floyd had a particular love of jazz music, having a collection spanning over seventy years, and enjoyed traveling, reading, and was a culinary aficionado. He served in various capacities on local, state and national boards and committees. Floyd was a long-time member of the Episcopal faith prior to becoming a member of East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his son, Floyd E. Miller, III. Dr. Floyd Miller is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Jacquelyn Boone Miller; son, Kelly J. Miller, Sr. and his wife, Deborah R. Miller of Ashburn, Va.; sister, Vivian M. Short of Williamsburg, Va.; grandchildren, Kelly Jr. and Kyle J. Miller of Ashburn, Va.; niece, Stephanie Short of Norfolk, Va.; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. You may view the services at the zoom link below. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/4687866355