George Paul Modrak

George Paul Modrak, 90, of Gainesville VA, succumbed to lung cancer on February 13, 2025. He passed away peacefully at home with family by his side. Born June 19, 1934 to John Joseph and Anna Domsic Modrak of Canonsburg, PA, Paul was the third of seven children. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nancy Carter Modrak; his children David Modrak (Lauren), Keren Huffman (Dean), Raissa Miller (Gordon), and Jessamyn Schindel (Phillip), seven grandchildren and one great grandson, as well as three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Canonsburg High School, Paul served in the Army and attended The George Washington University. Over the years, he worked as an account representative for the American Trucking Association, American Institute of Architects, National Association of County Officials, Congressional Quarterly, and the Washingtonian Magazine. He later founded the Washington Book Trading Company, which published and distributed local interest books.
Paul loved reading and was a fount of knowledge about history, especially the Civil War and WWII. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, and traveling with close friends and family, and dearly loved his poodles, Sasha and Frankie.
A final message from Paul hearkened from his days as an altar boy and his love of wildflowers and natural gardening: Entero ibo dei. Ingredior in hortum domini, et deus laetitiae iuventutis meae."I wholeheartedly go to God. I enter into the garden of the Lord, the God, the joy of my youth."
A celebration of life will be held this summer.