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Obituary
DR. KEVIN MITCHELL MILAM,
55, of Huntington, husband of Dr. Janet Nease Wallace, passed away June 15,
2014 at his residence following a brave battle against ALS. He was
born January 22, 1959 in Beckley, West Virginia to Robert Lee Milam, Sr.,
and the late Peggy Joyce (Dilly) Milam. Kevin was a 1977 graduate of Sherman
High School and attended University of North Carolina School of the Arts
from 1977 to 1981 before beginning a near two-decade career as a
professional ballet dancer and instructor. He was a member of the El
Paso Ballet from 1983 to 1985. From 1988 to 1995, he was the artistic
director of the Performing Arts School of Worcester (PASOW) in
Massachusetts. During these years, he found his greatest artistic joy as a
choreographer and teacher to many beloved students who even now express
gratitude for the positive impact he had on their personal and professional
lives. Kevin eventually returned to his native West Virginia to pursue
a lifelong desire of becoming a primary care physician. He received his
Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts in 1998 and
proceeded to the Marshall University School of Medicine, where he was
graduated in 2002. Dr. Milam completed his residency in family medicine at
Marshall in 2004, and immediately went to work providing primary medical
care to underserved patient populations in southern West Virginia. He worked
at Clay Primary Care Center from 2004 to 2006 before moving to Lincoln
Primary Care Center in Hamlin, where he had the privilege of serving this
welcoming community until illness forced him to retire in November 2013.
Milam also served in the National Health Service Corps from 2004 to 2013.
Kevin’s story would not be complete without mentioning his love of cycling.
He was a gifted triathlete and cyclist who loved more than anything to share
this passion for the sport with others. He was most proud of completing the
grueling Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in 2004. He
especially enjoyed the tough TNP rides at Jeff’s Bike Shop with the
dedicated men and women whom he admired and inspired. Kevin Milam was a
fierce and loyal friend who will long be remembered by all who knew him.
In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by his children Max,
Emily, and Sam Wallace; one brother Lee (Kristi) Milam of Glen Daniel, and
two sisters, Melissa Milam and Jada Milam, both of Clover, South Carolina;
stepmother Pam Milam; nephews Jacob Milam and Kaleb Milam and niece Hannah
Milam, all of Glen Daniel; mother-in-law Dorothy Nease; three
brothers-in-law Victor (Sarah) Nease, Richard Nease, and Robert (Kristie)
Nease; one sister-in-law Susan Pratt and their families; special cousins,
Jay Milam of Panama City, Florida and Beverly Lacek of Beckley; special
brother-in-law John Pratt of Huntington. The family would also like to
thank friends Jared Holley, Steve and Torin Lochow, Stacy and Jeff Joy,
Ellen Johnson, Jenette Williams, and Billy and Christine (CJ) Peyton for all
the support and love they have given during this difficult time. A
memorial service will be held to honor Kevin’s memory on Friday, June 20,
2014 at 7:00 PM at Beard Mortuary, Huntington, with Pastors Bill DeMoss and
David Cartwright officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM
until time of the service at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the
family requests donations be made to the 1439 Scholarship Fund (mail to:
Linda Holmes, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Huntington, WV 25701) or to the
Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. “To win is to finish, and to finish
is to win.” Good job, my love.
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