Caroline C. Milner

CAROLINE C. MILNER ASHEVILLE—Martha Caroline Connelly Milner, 90, died peacefully at home on January 26, 2008. Caroline was born September 1917 in Raleigh, NC, graduated from St. Mary's Junior College in 1936 and married Robert Stanley Milner of Cary, NC, a newly commissioned 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corps, in 1941. Her husband liked to say, "I got my wings one day, and she clipped them the next." She spent the next 25 years as a United States Air Force wife, raising four daughters and living in many places abroad and across America. When her husband retired from the Air Force, she returned to college and earned degrees in Fine Art and history from Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC. She was an accomplished artist and she worked for several years as the Director of St. John's Museum of Art, now the Louise Wells Cameron Museum of Art in Wilmington, NC. Her focus was in presenting and promoting the works of regional and North Carolina artists. After she retired, Caroline and her husband lived in Charleston, SC, where Col. Milner died in 1988. Caroline then moved to Asheville in 1991. She was very happy here in the beautiful mountains with her family, friends and pets. She enjoyed reading and gardening and was interested in politics and world events throughout her life. Caroline was very proud of her Scottish background. Her ancestors sailed to America from Argyll and settled in the Cape Fear region in the early 1700s. Caroline was an Episcopalian and a member of many civic and military organizations throughout her life. Caroline's family would like to thank Dr. Hal Hemme for the many years he provided medical care for her, and Dr. James Usedom and Dr. John Manley, who worked to get her well enough to come home from Mission Hospital. During her brief illness, Caroline was cared for at home with hospice assistance from CarePartners Health Services. Her family would like to thank all of the employees who made her last days comfortable, especially her nurse Mary Ashe. They helped fulfill her wish to die at home with dignity and love and without pain. Besides her husband, Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Willard Moss and Martha Caroline Green Connelly; two sisters, Patricia E. Connelly and Linda C. Smith; and a brother, Robert Lee Connelly. She is survived by siblings Ben Lee Connelly, Margaret C. Holland, and Jennifer C. McNeill; daughters Julia M. West (Bob), Laura M. Grimes (Don), Karen M. Freeman (Jim), and Maria Lisa Milner; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in Fort Myers Chapel, Arlington, VA, in the spring and she will be buried with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery. West Funeral Home, Weaverville, is handling arrangements. www.westfamilyfuneralservies.com. Those desiring to make memorial contributions are encouraged to consider The Scholarship Fund of the Military Officers Association of America, 201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2539, which assists children of active duty, retired, National Guard and Reserve Service members in obtaining college educations, or the Asheville Humane Society, 72 Lee's Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28806.