William McGrath, Jr.
October 1, 1927 — June 13, 2016
William Albert McGrath, Jr. loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away at home in Adamstown, Maryland on Monday, June 13, 2016.
He was the loving husband of Clara McGrath for 65 years.
Born October 1, 1927, in Bridgeport, CT he was the son of the late William Albert McGrath, Sr. and Marion (LaForge) McGrath.
He graduated from the Technical High School in Springfield, MA in 1945. William served in the Army, first at the Norfolk Military University in Springfield, VT, then at Ft. Lawson, WA, and was stationed on the Shemya Air Force Base in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands.
He worked for Hechinger Company for over 40 years before retiring to North Myrtle Beach, SC in 1988. He returned to Maryland in 2012 to be closer to family. He was a member of the Buckeystown United Methodist Church, Buckeystown.
He became a Freemason in 1966 and was a member of Kensington Lodge #198 in Maryland where he served as Worshipful Master in 1977. On Friday, June 10, 2016 he was recognized for his 50 years of membership in the lodge. He was a lifetime member of Grand Strand Lodge #353 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was also a member of the Kensington Order of the Easter Star, Chapter #39 (MD) and the North Myrtle Beach Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #180 (SC). He was a member of the Maryland Tall Cedars, Rockville Forest #134.
He loved cooking, reading, and was a puzzle enthusiast. He was always willing to share a story or joke with family and friends. He loved traveling and visited many beautiful places around the world.
In addition to his wife, William is survived by his children, Sheila Buscemi (Paul) of Jefferson, Maryland; Sandra Polk (Bob) of Huntington Beach, CA; grandchildren, Lance Dockery, Katherine Buscemi, Natalie Buscemi, and Emily Polk; and numerous nieces and nephews.
William was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert Eames McGrath, Joan Elizabeth McGrath, and half brother, James Thomas McGrath.
The family will celebrate William’s life with a memorial service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at the Buckeystown United Methodist Church, 3440 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown, MD.
Inurnment will be private at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Rockville, Maryland.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Maryland Masonic Home at 300 International Circle, Cockeysville, Maryland 21030 or www.mdmasonichomes.org.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.