Charlotte Ingrid Miller

Miller—Charlotte Ingrid Miller, 77, on July 10, 2022, surrounded by her husband and children in home hospice in Denver, Colo.

Charlotte was born on September 22, 1944, in Quito, Ecuador, the second of six children. From Ecuador, the family moved to Mexico City, Mexico, and, when she was six, to the United States.

Charlotte attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., went to the University of Florida to study anthropology, did field research in Brazil, and received her doctorate in 1976. That same year she attended Gainesville (Fla.) Meeting and married Rob Werge. They moved to Peru, where Rob was working. They had two children while in Peru: Ingrid was born in 1977, and Tom in 1978. Charlotte worked as an anthropologist for aid agencies in the Andes and the Amazon Basin, focusing on projects to benefit Indigenous populations. During those years, she organized a Quaker worship group in Lima.

In 1979, Charlotte accepted a teaching position at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga. The family moved to Atlanta, where they attended Atlanta Meeting. After a year, they moved to Maryland and became members of Adelphi (Md.) Meeting. Charlotte continued her international development work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During the next 20 years, she conducted studies in 16 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, always with a passion for social justice.

When not traveling, Charlotte was an active Quaker. Besides committee work at Adelphi Meeting, she taught First-day school, formed a children’s chorus, and worked with Friends Committee on National Legislation and American Friends Service Committee. She also volunteered to work with the children at Friends General Conference Gatherings.

In 1984, upon hearing of a Salvadoran refugee child who had been abandoned at a neighboring house, her immediate response was “Shall I go and get him now?” She did. José eventually became an adopted third child and is now an inner city school teacher in Maryland.

Charlotte and Rob moved to Fort Collins, Colo., in 1997. She served as clerk of Fort Collins Meeting, on its committees and those of Intermountain Yearly Meeting and Colorado Regional Meeting. She served on boards of nonprofits, including chair of a treatment center for at-risk youth. She held posts in the local Democratic Party.

Charlotte and Rob moved to Denver in 2016, becoming members of Mountain View Meeting and serving on several committees.

Charlotte was open to life. You never had to guess what she was thinking. Whatever the cause or the task, Charlotte worked hard while maintaining her sense of humor. Whether it was research in Africa or baking Christmas cookies at home, she gave each task her full energy and attention.

Children, grandchildren, and extended family were a constant source of interest and, not infrequently, bemusement. She brought friends into the family; sometimes they moved into the family’s home for extended stays.

As her energy slackened, Charlotte focused on her children and grandchildren as well as hobbies, including reading, sewing, quilting, coloring, and watching Hallmark movies.

At a Pendle Hill workshop in 2001, she was asked “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” In her notebook she wrote, “Do good works, be with children, enjoy the present moment.” And she did.

Charlotte was predeceased by a brother, Fred Miller.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, Rob Werge; three children, Ingrid Werge, Tom Werge (Halie Crocker Werge), and José Robinson Caéas (Nelcy Pérez Caéas); nine grandchildren; four siblings, Peter Miller (Karin), Rebecca Wehrly (Steve), Gayle Brody (Charles), and Margaret Wolff (Tony); and 14 nieces and nephews.