Owen T. Mcginley

Owen T. McGinley, 96, formerly of Centralia and Aristes, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Serenity Gardens surrounded by his family.

Born in Centralia on August 4, 1924 he was son of the late Owen and Cecilia (Barnes) McGinley.

He attended Centralia Schools and received an honorary diploma from North Schuylkill High School at the age of 89.

Owen served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a Motorman and was with Company “E” of the 168th Infantry Division. He participated in the Naples-Roggia, Rome-Arno, North Appennies and Po Valley Campaigns. He received the Purple Heart with one oak leave cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with four bronze stars. He saw action in North Africa and Italy, including Anzio and Casino. At the war’s end, he was in Milan in the aftermath of Mussolini’s capture and execution.

He was married on June 25, 1949 in the former St. Ignatius Church in Centralia to Mary Elizabeth “Mamie” (Yost) McGinley who preceded him in death on April 25, 2008.

Owen was a retired heavy equipment operator. He also did carpentry work before his retirement. He was appointed a Deputy Game Protector on May 1, 1956 for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and continued in that position for twenty years.

He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, the Centralia American Legion Post #608 for seventy-five years and was past Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 655. He was also a member of the Wilburton Senior Center and the Disabled American Veterans.

He enjoyed giving rides on the family’s pony, Tonka, to all the neighborhood kids. He enjoyed showing home movies on a screen outside for the neighborhood to watch on a warm summer night; all of the neighbors were in the movies. He also enjoyed hunting deer and small game, bus trips to the casino and going to Knoebels. Most of all he cherished his time spent with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving are two sons, William McGinley of Aristes and Brian McGinley and his wife Laura of Exton; two daughters, Mary Beth Keirn and husband Ron of Baltimore, Maryland and Paula Cunningham of Fairfax, Virginia; ten grandchildren, Tanya Hatfield, Balinda O’Donnell and her husband Dan, Shana Minnig and her husband Cody, Angela Barton and her husband Aaron, Kaitlin Kertsman and her husband Steve, Michael Bettick and his wife Jessica, Ryan McGinley, Shawn McGinley, Connor Cunningham and Justin Cunningham; sixteen great-grandchildren, Amaya, Giavana, Owen, Everly, Avelyn, Asher, Alivia, Maddox, Karson, Abigail, Amelia, Hannah, Benson, Milo, Samantha, and Sabrina; three sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Zecca and her husband Ron of Tamarac, Florida, Judith Yost of Charlotte, North Carolina and Frances Yost of Philadelphia; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, Edward, John and Joseph McGinley; half-brother, James McGinley; one sister Anna Hanna; two step-sisters, Marie Collins and Jean Klick; his step-mother, Anna Rhoades; one daughter-in-law, Donna McGinley and one son-in-law, Gary Cunningham.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church with the Rev. Francis J. Karwacki, Pastor officiating. Interment with military honors will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. A viewing will be held on Thursday morning from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at the Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 South Market Street, Mt. Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz, III Supervisor. To leave a condolence for Owen’s family, please sign the guestbook at www.stutzfuneralhome.com.