Charles Riggs Milford Obituary (1917 - 2010)

Born Aug 17, 1917, Charles Riggs Milford attended Skaneateles High School in Skaneateles, NY. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Charles Riggs Milford.

Graduation Year	Class of 1934
Date of Birth	Aug 17, 1917
Date of Passing	Dec 28, 2010
About	Dr. Charles R Milford M.D., a long time resident of Red Bluff , passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was born on August 2, 1917 in Skaneateles, New York where he grew up. After graduating high school he attended Cornell University where he earned a B.A. He received his Medical Degree from Syracuse Medical School. He was one of the doctors who helped develop caudal anesthesia in obstetrics. One of his proudest achievements was that he delivered 3,357 babies. In May, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medical officer. He served active duty in the China-Burma-India (C.B.I.) theater of war. At the end of the war, while still in the service, he became Port Surgeon-Port Command in Shanghai, China. After his release from the Army Dr. Milford returned to Shanghai for civilian practice of medicine. He served part time as the Shanghai American School’s doctor. There he met the school’s nurse Dorothy Skelton of Evansville, Indiana. The two were married April 8, 1949 in the Community Church in Shanghai. The couple had to leave Shanghai in May, 1949, on the passenger ship the General Gordon, the last ship out of the harbor. The communist troops fired on the ship as it moved out the Whangpoo River to the Pacific Ocean. After arriving in San Francisco the next stop was Red Bluff. Dr. Milford and his wife stayed with relatives for two weeks while he found housing and worked on securing his California medical license. He began his practice in Red Bluff with the office of Doctors Frey, Wood, and Wilson. Later he moved to the Belle Mill Road office with Dr. Lynn Wolfe. In 1966, with Doctors Wolfe and Ken Robison, he built the office complex at 1805 Walnut St., the Red Bluff Professional Center, where he practiced until his retirement in 1989. During his years in Red Bluff he served as the City of Red Bluff and the Tehama County Health Officer. Until his retirement, Dr. Milford was a member of the California medical Association, Tehama County Medical Society, staff of the St Elizabeth Hospital and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was also a member of the Rotary Club, the York Rite Masons, the Elks Club. An avid golfer, he was a member and past president of the Wilcox Oaks Golf Club. Dr. Milford is survived by his wife Dorothy and their son, Jeff of Red Bluff. The family has decided to have a private memorial service instead of a public funeral.