James William McGrath

James William McGrath

James W. McGrath, "Jim," died peacefully at the Virginia Baptist Hospital Hospice on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 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 and 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 60s, 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 and 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, Fla.

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, and his wife, Diane; his daughter, Gail Albert, and her husband, Al; and his daughter, Anne McGrath, and 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 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 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; Centra Foundation, 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24501; or Holy Cross Catholic Church, 710 Clay St., Lynchburg, VA, 24504.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharp

funeralhome.com.