James
James William Mcgrath
James W. McGrath, \"Jim\", died peacefully at the Virginia Baptist Hospital Hospice on the morning of Sunday, October 3, 2010.
Jim was a Renaissance man who pursued many interests during his life, a success in virtually every endeavor he undertook. He had a long career as an engineer with Babcock & Wilcox Co., first as a steam power plant generation field engineer, and later in nuclear engineering at Mt. Athos here in Lynchburg. Jim had many interests in addition to family & career. He was an accomplished artist whose work appeared on the jury fence at the Lynchburg Art Festival. He had an extremely good sense of balance, allowing him to participate in many sports, including high school football, roller skating, in-line skating, ice skating, bicycling, motorcycling. Incredibly he took up skateboarding in his 60\"™s, the activity until he was almost 70. Jim built, among other things, a large astronomical telescope that he used to share with students at Holy Cross School and a cabin cruiser that he designed & constructed by himself. He used it at Smith Mountain Lake when the lake was newly formed. He also built an early version of a hang glider. Luckily, he wasn\"™t killed years ago when he tested it!
Jim loved the sea. In 1941 he graduated from Massachusetts Nautical School, which later became Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II. He took graduate courses in nuclear engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Paul McGrath, his mother, Isabelle Cecelia Mackie McGrath, and his younger brother Howard \"Howie\" McGrath. He is survived by his Welsh war bride wife of almost 67 years, Lorraine Ceinwen Llewellyn \"Terry\" McGrath, (their anniversary would have been this month), his son Glenn McGrath & his wife Diane, his daughter Gail Albert & her husband Al, and his daughter Anne McGrath & her husband Steve. Jim is also survived by six grandchildren as well as three great-grandchildren, with another one on the way!
There will be a service at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Saturday, October 9, 2010, with the Rev. Msgr. J. Kenneth Rush officiating. A reception will follow. At a future date, Jim\"™s ashes will be scattered at sea in accordance with his wishes.
Donations to consider in Jim\"™s memory include National Kidney Foundation of VA, Inc., Southwest Virginia Chapter, Roanoke, VA, 24014; or Centra Foundation, 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24501, or Holy Cross Catholic Church, 710 Clay Street, Lynchburg, VA, 24504.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
Jim was a Renaissance man who pursued many interests during his life, a success in virtually every endeavor he undertook. He had a long career as an engineer with Babcock & Wilcox Co., first as a steam power plant generation field engineer, and later in nuclear engineering at Mt. Athos here in Lynchburg. Jim had many interests in addition to family & career. He was an accomplished artist whose work appeared on the jury fence at the Lynchburg Art Festival. He had an extremely good sense of balance, allowing him to participate in many sports, including high school football, roller skating, in-line skating, ice skating, bicycling, motorcycling. Incredibly he took up skateboarding in his 60\"™s, the activity until he was almost 70. Jim built, among other things, a large astronomical telescope that he used to share with students at Holy Cross School and a cabin cruiser that he designed & constructed by himself. He used it at Smith Mountain Lake when the lake was newly formed. He also built an early version of a hang glider. Luckily, he wasn\"™t killed years ago when he tested it!
Jim loved the sea. In 1941 he graduated from Massachusetts Nautical School, which later became Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II. He took graduate courses in nuclear engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Paul McGrath, his mother, Isabelle Cecelia Mackie McGrath, and his younger brother Howard \"Howie\" McGrath. He is survived by his Welsh war bride wife of almost 67 years, Lorraine Ceinwen Llewellyn \"Terry\" McGrath, (their anniversary would have been this month), his son Glenn McGrath & his wife Diane, his daughter Gail Albert & her husband Al, and his daughter Anne McGrath & her husband Steve. Jim is also survived by six grandchildren as well as three great-grandchildren, with another one on the way!
There will be a service at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Saturday, October 9, 2010, with the Rev. Msgr. J. Kenneth Rush officiating. A reception will follow. At a future date, Jim\"™s ashes will be scattered at sea in accordance with his wishes.
Donations to consider in Jim\"™s memory include National Kidney Foundation of VA, Inc., Southwest Virginia Chapter, Roanoke, VA, 24014; or Centra Foundation, 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24501, or Holy Cross Catholic Church, 710 Clay Street, Lynchburg, VA, 24504.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James William Mcgrath, please visit our flower store.
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