Charles Eugene Milam

Obituary

Obituary for Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Charles E. Milam

Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Charles “Charlie” E. Milam, age 90, passed away on June 9, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. He lived an extraordinary life defined by deep patriotism, dedicated service, exceptional athletic talent, generosity, and a profound love for his family and the game of golf.

Early Life and Athletic Legacy

Charlie was born on September 26, 1935, in Lakeland, Florida, to Ethel Solomon and Otis Milam. Growing up in Moultrie, Georgia, Charlie was a phenomenal athlete. A blazing fast sprinter, he held the state record for the 100-yard dash for several years. His incredible talent on the football field earned him a spot to play for Florida State University. However, his life took a historic turn when he walked into an Air Force recruiting office in Albany, Georgia, alongside a friend—and decided to enlist.

A Distinguished Military Career

Charlie entered the United States Air Force as a Security Policeman, beginning a journey of elite service. Through a steadfast work ethic, exceptional leadership, and unwavering dedication, he rose to achieve the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

His military career took him across the globe, including Europe, several US bases and two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Among his many career highlights, Chief Master Sergeant Milam was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and meritorious service after bravely supervising 11 Airmen assigned to the high-stakes security detail for the Presidential Advisor on Vietnam Affairs. For his incredible 30-year legacy of service, Charlie was honored by the Pentagon and featured in the United States Air Force Veterans in Blue collection in 2017. His picture and accomplishments are on display at the Pentagon.

A Life of Adventure, Artistry, and Family

While stationed in Germany, Charlie met the love of his life, Gerlinde. They were married on July 19, 1958, and spent nearly 68 beautiful years building a family and living all over the world. While he fought in Vietnam, his family remained safely stationed in Germany, cementing a lifelong connection to the country that was his wife’s homeland.

After retiring from active military duty, Charlie transitioned into civil service, working as a security advisor for the Defense Commissary Agency. He was also a gifted craftsman and an avid woodworker. Charlie poured his heart into making hand-carved gifts for his family, as well as personalized desk nameplates to express his deep gratitude to the doctors and nurses who cared for him. He volunteered to teach golf to kids and always had candy in his golf bag to share with them.

True to his energetic spirit and lifelong love of the sport, he took on a final role that lasted until he was 80 years old, serving as the beloved starter at the Ramstein Golf Courses in Germany. Charlie was such an avid golfer and made such a lasting impact on the military community there that Ramstein Air Force Base established an annual golf tournament in his honor.

Surviving Family

Charlie’s legacy lives on through his devoted family:

· His beloved wife: Gerlinde Milam of Waldfischbach, Germany.

· His children: Daughter, Diana Hendrix of St Charles, Il and Son, Chuck Milam of Highland, IL

· His older brother: Lee Milam, age 96, of Mississippi.

· His five grandchildren: Ryan Milam, Trevor Milam, Chelsea, Zoe Milam, Alex Milam.

· His four great-grandchildren: Kavik Milam, Layke Milam, Remi and Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel Solomon, Otis Milam and brother Alonzo Milam.

Service and Donation Information

Charlie will be laid to rest with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, 18 Sep 2026 at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Air Force Aid Society, an organization that helps Air Force members with no-interest loans and emergency grants. Donations can be made online in his memory here: https://afas.org/