Charles Keller "Pete" Milless

Charles Keller “Pete” Milless, a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on November 18th, 2025, at the age of 79. Surrounded by family in his home in his final days, he left this world with the same courage, integrity, and quiet strength that defined his life.

Born on March 7th, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio, Pete grew into a man marked by service to his country, his community, and the people he loved. As a proud Vietnam veteran, he volunteered at the age of 19 to serve his country and served with distinction as a Medical Technician in the United States Air Force, earning the Air Force Commendation Medal for his meritorious service. The honor recognized his exceptional skill, dedication, and compassion in caring for wounded service members, qualities that would continue to guide him throughout his life.

After returning home, thanks to the GI Bill, Pete received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and his Juris Doctorate from Capital University. He devoted his more than 50-year legal career to protecting the lives and futures of young people. As a child and family services attorney, he changed countless lives through his fierce advocacy, gentle guidance, and unwavering belief that every child and every family deserved safety, dignity, and hope. His expertise and commitment led him to argue numerous cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, helping to establish legal precedent in the Ohio child welfare system and shaping how vulnerable children are protected for generations to come.

Pete extended that mission through his 25 years of service to the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), an organization he cared for deeply. Over the years, alongside his longest and dearest friend, Marvena Twigg, he served as a Board Member, Head of Care Management, and General Counsel, roles in which he shaped programs, supported families, and strengthened the organization’s ability to serve vulnerable youth across the country. His decades of service remain woven into the lives of the many children and families who benefited from his leadership.

Pete also shared his knowledge generously as a respected law professor at Capital University, where he mentored generations of students who carried his lessons forward into their own careers in law and public service.

To his family, Pete was a steady presence and the heart of every gathering. He was a loving husband to Cathy, with whom he shared 24 years of partnership and deep affection. As a father and grandfather, he was patient, present, and endlessly supportive, always ready with advice, humor, or simply a listening ear. He found some of his greatest joy in his grandchildren.

He also held a special role within his extended family, where he was embraced as a loyal son-in-law and trusted brother-in-law and uncle. He was always the first to offer help, whether making countless airport runs or creating meticulously organized binders to prepare loved ones for important events and trips. In recent years, he took devoted care of his mother-in-law, Angie. His quiet acts of service were expressions of his deep care for the people around him.

Pete is survived by his wife, Cathy; his children, Matthew Keller (Laura), Tiffani (Eric), and Tyler (Tom); his mother-in-law, Angie; his brother-in-law, Joe; his brother-in-law, Randy (Camille); his sister-in-law, Lori (Randy); his cousin-in-law, Patricia (Ken); his nieces and nephews, Kellene, Chris (Alisa), Laurel, Amanda (Ryan), Sean (Brandi), Brittany, Brett (Rupert), and Josh (Jackie); and his grandchildren, Lucas Keller, Carter, Charlotte, and Maxwell Keller. He is preceded in death by his parents, Keller and Neva; his sisters, Betty and Ruth; and his niece, Molly.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), honoring his lifelong dedication to service and children’s welfare.

His legacy lives on in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the values he championed. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. We love you.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.