Preschool Founder And Former Director Pat Miller Dies

Patricia “Pat” Woodall Miller, 86, died peacefully on February 8, 2021. She joined family members previously called home: her parents, C.G. and Edythe Porter Woodall, and her son, James Douglas Miller.

Born and raised in Kentucky, she graduated from Lafayette High School in Lexington. She attended the University of Kentucky, where she studied home economics and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She met the love of her life, Ted, a professor of mechanical engineering, and after a whirlwind courtship, Pat married Ted at Calvary Baptist Church. The couple moved to Los Angeles, where Ted worked for Hughes Aircraft and Pat worked for the Frito Lay Company. In 1965, the family moved to Severna Park, Maryland, where Pat founded and directed a preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds at Severna Park United Methodist Church. The school became known as the “Snoopy School” and served a community need as the school filled to capacity quickly and expanded to a staff of six teachers and aides. Pat loved her students and would regale her family with stories of the children every night at dinner.

In 1993, Pat joined Ted in retirement. They moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where they designed and commissioned their dream home in Ford’s Colony and had an active social life with friends. Not being one to “retire-retire,” Pat became active in community affairs and served as a chair of Caring Neighbors, a group providing support and assistance to local residents in need. She also started a gift-giving program for children at Sentara Hospital, where she and Ted worked as volunteers. Pat is survived by Ted, her daughter Lisa Lynne Miller, brother Thomas Woodall of Frederick, Maryland, and granddaughter Bethany Ruth Miller of Lake Worth, Florida. Current restrictions prevent a memorial service. Remembrances may be directed to a charitable cause of one’s choice.