Patrick McGraw

Patrick "Pat" McGraw, 90, of Langeloth, died Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Born May 4, 1924, he was a son of the late Patrick and Margaret McGinn McGraw.
On August 5, 1961, he married Teofila Mis, who died June 28, 1991. They were the parents of six children, Janice McGraw of Canonsburg, Teresa (Paul) Walsh of Burgettstown, twins Patricia and Paula McGraw of Falls Church, Va., Dan (Lisa) McGraw of Burgettstown and Coleen (Blaise) McConaghy of Langeloth; grandparents of nine grandchildren, Brenna, Conor, Aidan, Liam, Kieran and Fiona Walsh, Hannah McConaghy and twins Paula and Mareena Smith; and a great-grandson, Bently Smith.
Surviving are two sisters, Hannah "Babe" (late Albert) Bartholow and Catherine (late James) Ferrari; sister-in-law Dorothy McGraw; a loving extended family, including sisters-in-law Anna (late James) McConaughey, Helen (George) Hvizdos, Carol (Mike) DiBacco, Stephana (Nick) Iannetti and Vonice (Russ) Carr; and many nieces and nephews.
Deceased are sister, Margaret "Margie" (late Lou) Kun; brother Thomas "Jeff" McGraw; and in-laws Steve and Irene Mis.
Mr. McGraw was a graduate of Union High School, Burgettstown. He served his country during World War II as a proud member of the U.S. Army Air Corps Mighty 8th Air Force. During his service, he was tail gunner on the B-17 "Skeleton Special," flying past the statistical possibility of survival with 32 bombing missions over Germany.
After the war, Mr. McGraw attended Edinboro University for his bachelor's degree, and earned his master's degree in education from West Virginia University.
He enjoyed a long career as an educator, teaching history in his classroom and sportsmanship on the field as athletic director and coach of the Blue Devil baseball and football teams. He is remembered by many as their favorite high school teacher or the coach who set them on a course for greatness. His former players and students loved and respected him, and he was happy that many stayed in touch with him until his final days.
Mr. McGraw was an active parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes and former Fourth Degree Grand Knight of Council 3440.
He loved his family and community by giving them everything he had to share: his time, his resources, his seemingly inexhaustible supply of garden tomatoes, zucchini or jars of jelly. He enjoyed the polka and had a pure-hearted sense of delight in meeting people and exchanging greetings. He had a genuine interest in their lives and loves. He was patient, generous and unfailingly kind.
His family and friends loved him dearly and will miss him.
With the intention of creating a lasting memorial of him for the benefit of his grandchildren, the family will have a videographer available during the visitation at the funeral home. His family respectfully invites you to take a minute to share a quick story or memory you have of Mr. McGraw.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Taucher Funeral Home, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1109 Main Street, Burgettstown, with interment immediately following in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Burgettstown.
The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to The Chuckie Mahoney Scholarship Foundation, c/o James Tershel, 57 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, PA 15021, or to the Burgettstown Athletic Scholarship Fund, 100 Bavington Road, Burgettstown, PA 15021.