Gordon James Mccarthy

January 29, 1923 — January 10, 2016

Gordon James "Mac" McCarthy. Born January 29, 1923 in Rochester, New York- Died January
10, 2016 at Railside Assisted Living Center Byron Center, Michigan of dementia and Alzheimer's.
He was the only child of James Patrick and Evelyn Witters McCarthy. Mac was the first in his family to graduate from high school, serve in the Army Air Force, and graduate from college (RIT-Rochester Institute of Technology in 1941 and the University of Michigan in 1950).
He proudly served in the Army Air Force from 1943-1945 as a radar navigator on the B-29 Flying Fortress. He was assigned to the 58th wing of the 677th Bombardment Group. They flew seventeen successful missions over Japan on a plane their crew named the "High-N-Mighty". During his flight training at Marietta College, he met and fell in love with "that pretty little red head" Lucy Putnam at a dance at the Betsey Mills Club in Marietta. After the war ended they married in June of 1946. Mac enrolled at the University of Michigan and they moved to Ann Arbor the summer of 1946. There they had two children, then moved to Alma, Michigan, and had four more children.
Together they raised their family and danced together for the next fifty two years. Lucy was the love of his life. Mac never recovered from her sudden death in 1999.
Mac and Lucy raised six children: Linda Hofbauer of Kentwood, Mi. Susan Potter (John) of Grandville, Mi. Pamela Bolt of Fremont, Mi., James (deceased) formerly of Marietta, OH, Janet Sparks (Don) of Marietta, OH and Benjamin (Dawn) of Rockford, Mi. Mac was preceded in death by his wife Lucy (1999), granddaughter Laura (1976), son- in-law Don Sparks (2010), and son James (2012).
He was and will always be the proud husband, father, "Papa" and Great Grandfather, Uncle Mac and friend. He is survived by his five children, thirteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, brother-in-law Bill Putnam, and many nieces and nephews.
Mac worked as a Chemical Engineer for thirty two years in Alma, Michigan for Leonard Refinery (Total Petroleum) and as a consultant to many oil and chemical companies in the Ohio Valley and Pittsburgh area. He loved Marietta with all his heart, not only because of his wife and family, but because of the people in Marietta.
He volunteered at Marietta Memorial Hospital, was an active member (and Past President) of the Washington County Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club (he loved to make pancakes and help organize the annual Pancake Breakfast for their fundraiser), the Save the Armory Foundation, volunteered for the Salvation Army (Served on the Board) and was a member of the First Congregational Church (past board member). The church gave him great strength and love thanks to Reverend Linda Steelman and all of the "Congregational Church family".
Mac was a true Maize and Blue Michigan Fan no matter the score or record. Mac loved to tell stories, laugh, play cards, and sing songs. One of his best saying was "if you can't have a little fun in this world, it would be a sad, sad place". He made the world a better place. He made us better people by knowing him. What matters in life is not your competence but your character. What matters are not your memories but the memories of those who love you. Mac indeed lived a life that mattered!
The family would like to thank Dr. Lloyd Dennis (Marietta, OH), the staff of Railside Living Center
(Byron Center, MI) and Spectrum Health Hospice for their care and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Washington County Historical Society PO Box 103, Marietta, OH 45750 or the Armory Fund at Marietta Community Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Marietta, OH 45750 or to the charity of one's choice.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM with visitation with the family at the church one hour before the service. Funeral services are being provided by Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, 408 Front Street, Marietta, Ohio.

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Gordon James Mccarthy

January 29, 1923 — January 10, 2016

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