Barbara Durnell McGarry

Barbara Durnell McGarry
Mrs. McGarry, age 86, of Matthews and long-time resident of Bethesda, Maryland, died Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at Presbyterian Hospital - Matthews. Born December 28, 1922 in Hillsboro, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Donald Scott Durnell and Hazel Beach Durnell. Mrs. McGarry received her undergraduate degree from Radcliffe College and an MA from Columbia University, both degrees with honors. During World War II, she joined the U.S. Navy's Intelligence Unit, receiving a Presidential Unit Citation for breaking Japanese codes. At the end of the war, she joined the fledgling National Security Agency, where she worked on Russian codes until she and her husband, Dr. Edward C. McGarry, started a family. In 1958 Mrs. McGarry joined the new United Nations Association of the U.S., for which, with the warm approval of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, she instituted the first of several UN gala benefits to broaden awareness of UN specialized agencies such as UNICEF. In 1962, as Advisory Editor of Parents Magazine, she filed an amicus curiae brief with U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Gault vs. Arizona involving the rights of juvenile offenders. When the court's decision upheld these rights, she formed a coalition of organizations to support congressional legislation for juveniles which was enacted into law and established the National Institute of Juvenile Justice. Her efforts were commended by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who invited her to a White House signing ceremony for the new law.
Mrs. McGarry worked for many years with congress to initiate and enact legislation guaranteeing the right to education for all handicapped children, and the legislation became the Education for Handicapped Children Act, which was subsequently included as a part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
She was also active in various local civic organizations, having served as President of the Potomac Valley League of Civic Associations. She was also an advocate of education programs for retirees such as the Oasis Program.
Survivors include son, Edward, of Rockville, Maryland; daughter, Jeannette and son-in-law, Mike, of Matthews; sister-in-law, Ethel Durnell of Carson City, Nevada; and niece, Diana Durnell of Carson City. In addition to her parents, Mrs. McGarry was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Scott Durnell and Donald Scott Durnell.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 22210.
Arrangements by McEwen Funeral Service, 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Charlotte, NC 28227 (704-545-4864).