Patricia Noel McGinley

McGINLEY
PATRICIA NOEL
86, of Charleston, West Virginia, died in Morgantown, WV on September 15, 2002, following a brief illness. She was a resident of Penn Hills for 25 years. Mrs. McGinley was born on Aug. 15, 1916 in Piper, Alabama, the daughter of L. Clifford Noel and Nettie E. Noel. Her family later moved to Denver, CO where she attended West Denver High School. She married Robert D. McGrath, with whom she had one son, Robert N. McGrath. During WWII, she worked in an armaments factory to support the war effort. She later married William J. Myers of Titusville, PA, a co-pilot of a B-17 bomber who was downed by German anti-aircraft fire in August, 1944. Lt. Myers was captured on the island of Borkum off the coast of Holland and, with his flight crew, was tortured and executed by German soldiers whose acts later resulted in war crime convictions. after the was, she married Frank H. McGinley of Titusville, with whom she had a second son, Patrick C. McGinley. Before WWII, Mrs. McGinley received a cosmetology license and in the 1960's operated a beauty salon in East Liberty. She had a life-long interest in politics and served as Committeewoman and Secretary of the Republican Party of Penn Hills. She later changed her political affiliation and for the past 2 decades embraced progressive causes. She attended classes part-time for 15 years at Duquesne University and the University of South Florida while working, raising her two sons and caring for her elderly mother. The University of South Florida awarded her a B.A. degree in English in 1972. She was certified as a teacher by the State of Florida, and taught English and Special Education at Palatka Middle School in Palatka, FL, until she decided to pursue her ambition of becoming a lawyer. In 1980, at age 64, she received her law degree from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, MS. She took and passed the bar exam and was admitted to practice law in West Virginia. During her law career, Mrs. McGinley was a legal intern with Senior Citizen's Legal Services of Allegheny County; an Asst. Attorney General in West Virginia; an aide to U.S. Rep. Harley Staggers, Jr. (WV); and a staff attorney of the WV Public Service Commission's Consumer advocate Division. She retired at the age of 78 in 1994, but remained an active member of the West Virginia State Bar. until her recent illness, she mediated cases for the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, WV. Patricia McGinley was a devout Christian, an avid reader, enjoyed discussing politics an playing the lottery. She was very active and enjoyed traveling. At age 58, armed only with a Eur-Rail pass and a hatbox of clothes, she traveled on her own for two months throughout Europe from the boot of Italy to Narvik, Norway at the Artic Circle. in the 1990's she traveled to England, France, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Costa Rica and Mexico. She visited Hong Kong and China on her own at the age of 80. She had a lifelong love of sewing and dress design and made many of her own clothes throughout her life. She was an excellent knitter, knitting blankets an clothes for her great-grandchildren. She is survived by her two sons, Robert N. McGrath and his wife Brenda, of Penn Hills, and professor Patrick Charles McGinley and his wife Suzanne, of Morgantown, WV; one sister, Helen Noel Kerr of Gadsden, AL; two nieces, Margaret Roslyn Caillouet of Birmingham, AL, and Frances handke of Cabot, AK; a daughter-in-law, Kathleen M. Logan of Pittsburgh; seven grandchildren: Robert N. McGrath Jr of Ledyard, CT, Michael P. McGrath of Penn Hills, Sean P. McGinley of Charleston, WV, Molly McGinley Han of Reston, VA, Julie McGrath Scott of Parkersburg, WV. Jill McGrath Keebler of Penn Hills, and James McGrath of Pasadena, MD; ten great-grandchildren; Blaize Scott, Kody Scott, Trey Keebler, Hunter Keebler, Brenda McGrath, Robert McGrath, Patrick Alexander, Crystal Alexander, Haley McGrath and Ethan Han; and one great-great-grandchild, Andrew Alexander. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ralph Fitch Noel and sister Penelope France Noel, and her husbands. She will be solely missed by her family and many friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505. A memorial service will be held for Patricia at 2pm. Saturday, September 21, 2002 at the First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Friends will be received at the Church starting at 1:30pm.
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