Mr. Del Jay Miltenberger, Jr., age 74, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, after a three-and-a-half-year courageous battle with cancer. The family will receive friends at Paul Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. A service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, at the First Christian Church in Washington, with Reverend Dr. Robert Cayton officiating. Del’s daughter, Kimberly, will give a tribute to her Daddy. Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery following the service. Active pallbearers are Patrick Warren, E.J. Paszt, Robert Lecker, Ned Kinsey, Bobby Somers and Dusty Somers. Honorary pallbearer is Joe Sykes.

Del was born on Dec. 25, 1943. Del was a lifelong resident of Beaufort County. He graduated from Washington High School in 1962 and continued his education at East Carolina University, majoring in design, and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began his career as a design engineer with National Spinning Company. Later, he worked for the City of Washington as a customer consultant. He continued design engineering with Hackney and Sons for 13 years. He also became an auxiliary deputy sheriff and served Beaufort County for 20 years. Del became very active in government and served Washington Park as a police commissioner for his town for 16 years. Del worked for Flanders Filters in design engineering for a short time but returned to law enforcement working as a probation and parole officer for the State of North Carolina for 18 years, where he retired. Del was a member of First Christian Church. Del was also a member of Masonic Lodge 675 in Washington.

Del is survived by the mother of his two daughters, Sylvia Ione Taylor Miltenberger; daughter, Kimberly Ione Miltenberger Warren and husband Patrick, and their children, Anna Catherine and Abigail Hope, of Apex; daughter, Sarah Jo Paszt and husband E.J., and their children, Elizabeth Grace and Olivia Claire. He is also survived by Bobby Somers and Dusty Somers and their families.

Del was preceded in death by his parents, Delbert Jay Miltenberger, Sr. and Rena Mae Toler Miltenberger, his sister, Joann Hodges, and close friend, Ruth Paschall.

Del was a quiet and very private person. He was determined in everything he set out to accomplish. He was a generous person, always willing to help those in need. He loved animals, photography, guns, reading comic books and working in his shop. He was an artist. He scuba-dived in the Tar River, where he helped to recover many artifacts from a sunken ship. He especially loved refurbishing old military jeeps after he retired.

The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to Dr. Paul Walker and staff at Vidant Cancer Care and Barbara Connold, RN, ACNP and staff at The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice. Their care and compassion given to Del will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Del’s honor may be made to Vidant Cancer Care, 524 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834; The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, 920 Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834; or the Humane Society of Beaufort County, P.O. Box 33, Washington NC 27889.

The family also welcomes any written expressions of love and fond memories of Del. Please send to 2030 Battlewood Road, Apex NC 27523, to the attention of Kimberly M. Warren.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Miltenberger family.