ARNOLD N. "ARNIE" McGAHA Sr.

ARNOLD 'ARNIE' N. McGAHA, Sr., 73
U.S. Navy

LAKE ALFRED - Arnold 'Arnie' N. McGaha, Sr., 73 years young, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 30, 2016 after a courageous battle in later years with Dementia. He was being cared for by the Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Florida for the last 4 1/2 days of his life. He was born on February 20, 1943 to Oda S. and Annetta (nee Gussio) McGaha, Sr. in the Frederick Memorial Hospital. The family moved for a period of time to Salisbury, Maryland and ultimately settled in Beltsville, Maryland.
After his graduation from High Point High School in Beltsville, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served his country proudly from 1961 to 1966. He made numerous tours to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas.
He said those years were some of the best he ever had. He formed lifelong friendships with his Navy buddies whom he had kept in touch with all these many years. He married his high school sweetheart, Connie Burt, and they have two children, Arnie, Jr. (Karen), and their two sons, Jack and Sean. John (Belle) and their two children, Emma (his favorite granddaughter) and Christian. All reside in New Market, Maryland.
Once Honorably discharged from the Navy in 1966, Arnie was employed by The C & P Telephone Company, now Verizon, in Frederick, Maryland. Arnie was a loving and devoted husband and father. He spent countless hours coaching both his sons in baseball for many years. He enjoyed working outdoors cutting the grass, tending to his vegetable garden and chopping wood for the cold Maryland winters. There were very few things he could not fix, repair or replace. Arnie volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the New Market, Maryland Volunteer Fire Company during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He held a variety of supervisory positions in the telephone company, and retired after 30 years in 1996 as a Property Manager in the Commercial Real Estate Department.
In 2004 he married Jean Hamill and became a devoted step-father to her children Tamara (George) Fisher and their son, Lake who live in Dunedin, Florida and Gayle (William) Martin of Sparks, Maryland.
During his retirement he expanded his part-time hobby, Wedding Photography and it became his full-time business. He always said it was the best job in the world joining families on such a joyful day. He was accompanied by his wife, Jean, who assisted her husband at every event. It was a wonderful time for the two of them. They enjoyed many Cruise vacations to the Caribbean, and visited the same ports as when he was in the Navy. They also loved bowling together and having friends over for dinners, BBQs, you name it, anything to socialize with relatives, friends and neighbors. For over 10 years he volunteered his time to provide weekly hymn sings at first to the local Assisted Living Facilities and then for the Daybreak Adult Day Care Center in Frederick, Maryland.
Arnie's youngest brother, Patrick McGaha (Susan) passed away in 2014. Arnie is survived by his brother, Oda S. (Anne) McGaha, Jr. and sister, Nancy V. McGaha. All reside in Florida. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins, and life-long friends, who will miss him terribly.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Auburndale, Community Church, 601 Stadium Road, Auburndale, Florida 33823, Telephone 1-863-956-2685.
in lieu of flowers you may make a donation to Cure Alzheimer's Fund (curealz.org) or to the Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, Florida 33823.
Services in Frederick, Maryland are scheduled for Saturday, August 6, 2016, details forthcoming.