Harry L. McGrady

Harry L. McGrady Harry Lee McGrady, 89, of Hillsville died Wednesday, June 28, 2011. A graveside service was held Thursday, June 29, at the John P. Webb Cemetery, east of Hillsville in the Freemont community, with Masonic and military rites. He was born Sept. 8, 1921, in Barren Springs, son of the late Herman S. and Flora Frost McGrady. He graduated from Jackson Memorial High School where he excelled as a baseball pitcher. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force for six and a half years during and after World War II. After enlisting in the Air Force, he was selected for advanced engineering training and upon completion of the training he went to Great Britain where he served as a crew chief assigned to repair bombers that were damaged during air raids. After World War II, he was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and served as a flight engineer transporting high ranking officers, dignitaries and scientists around the U.S. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service for over 25 years and he started his career in the Wytheville office of the Soil Conservation Service. During his career, he designed numerous farm ponds, spring development systems and strip cropping plans in Wythe, Bland, Carroll and Grayson counties. He also had a beef cattle farm which he operated for over 50 years. He was elected by the voters of Carroll County for several terms to serve on the New River Soil and Water Conservation District Board. He was a member of the Hillsville Christian Church where he served as a deacon, elder and chairman of the board. He was a member of the Hillsville Masonic Lodge 193 for over 50 years and served as Worshipful Master in 1966. He also was a member of the Grover King Post 1115 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Carroll County Democratic Committee. He was preceded in death by a brother, Milton Guy McGrady. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Helen Webb McGrady; a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph H. and Anne A. McGrady; grandsons, Jonathan L. McGrady and wife, Jennifer, and Chadwick P. McGrady; four great-grandchildren, Molly, Jon, Sam and Alex; a brother, Samuel Jackson McGrady and wife, Mary Lee McGrady; and a sister, Mary Ruth Owens. Memorial donations may be made to Hillsville Christian Church, 120 Edgewood Drive, Hillsville, VA 24343. Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel Inc. in Hillsville was in charge of the arrangements.