Barbara Diane Miles

Barbara Diane Miles, of Manchester, New Hampshire died on June 5, 2024 in Bedford.  Born October 22, 1951 in Kearny, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Mary Theresa McHugh and Robert Theodore Miles.  Barb graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas in June 1969.  She lived with her grandmother in New York City for three years.  While attending New York University Barb taught Israeli dance to blind, deaf and deaf-blind adults.

In 1975 Barb graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and adaptive physical education.  She later earned a Master’s Degree in History and Archive Management from Catholic University of America.

From 1975-1978 Barb worked for the Cumberland-Perry Association of Retarded Citizens in Pennsylvania.  In 1980 she was appointed director of the Carlisle Senior Citizens Center.  She also served as director of the Salvation Army Senior Action Center in Carlisle.  In 1984 she was appointed resident manager of One West Penn senior housing facility.  Barb was recognized with a Community Service Award from the League of Women Voters in Carlisle in 1988.

In November 1988 she attended the beatification ceremony in Rome for Mother Katherine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Philadelphia and educator of the children of newly freed slaves and American Indian children in Pennsylvania.

In 1993 she became the archivist of St. Patrick’s Shrine Church in Carlisle and the following year was appointed archivist at Mt. St. Mary’s College & Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.  In December 1994 she returned to Rome for the elevation to Cardinal of Bishop William H. Keeler.

Upon moving to New Hampshire, Barb held a series of interesting jobs in diverse professions.  She was working for the American Red Cross during the 2001 terrorist attacks on America.  She worked for the NH State Archives in Concord and later served as executive director of the NH Aviation Historical Society.  Barb was a licensed pilot and at one time owned an airplane.  She frequently traveled the region portraying Ruth Law, the first woman to fly in New Hampshire, as a presenter for the NH Humanities Council.  Barbara was one of the co-authors of “Manchester’s Airport: Flying Through Time” in 2006 and the author of “Catholic New Hampshire” in 2020, an historical montage of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester published by Acadia Press.

She was especially proud of her Scottish heritage and did extensive genealogy work.

Barbara was the archivist for the Diocese of Manchester, and until her retirement in January, worked as assistant archivist for the Diocese of Portland, ME.

Barbara had no close family, but leaves behind a wide circle of friends.

A visiting hour will be held from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13 at St. Raphael’s Church, 103 Walker Street in Manchester, followed by a funeral at 10:00 a.m.  Burial will be private