John Alexander McNary

JOHN ALEXANDER McNARY, age 83, Father, Husband, and Son of Braxton County, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Frederick, Maryland due to complications from Alzheimer's.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Harry Bane McNary and Lucile Fox McNary of Sutton, West Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sara, his daughter Kirstin McNary (Mark Berman), son Cameron McNary (Maureen) (Annie Ruffalo) and granddaughters Maeve, Fianna, and Sutton; sister Linda Mullins (Gary) (deceased) (Harry Seidentopf), sister Nancy Douglas (Robert) (deceased); nephews Chris Mullins (Susie), Todd Mullins (Lynn), Robert E Douglas Jr (deceased), Ann Douglas Keesler (deceased) (James); beloved grandnieces and grandnephews.
John was born and raised in Sutton, West Virginia. He attended both Sutton High School and Greenbrier Military Academy in Lewisburg, West Virginia. In his youth, he particularly enjoyed camping, fishing, and all aspects of Scouting. John was elected by his peers to the Order of the Arrow (OA), the BSA National Honor Society, recognizing scouts who exhibit strong Scouting values and exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.
John attended West Virginia University prior to serving a tour in the U. S. Army, stationed in West Germany. There, he continued studies through the University of Maryland Bootstrap Program. Upon returning to the United States he attended classes at the University of Maryland main campus. While at Maryland, he met and married Sara Ann Flanagan. His educational experiences led to a distinguished 40-year career at the highly respected Computer Science Center at the University of Maryland.
John was an active member of the award winning Washington Scottish Pipe Band, serving as drum major and piper for over 50 years. He lived in the same house in the Woodmoor neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland during the same period, all the while, enjoying his neighbors and honing his gardening skills.
John's accomplishments were many, but what he did is far surpassed by who he was. Those who met John, no matter how briefly, were hard-pressed to come away untouched by his charm, good humor, and sincere love of humanity. If we are measured in our passing by how deeply we are mourned and by how many, then John was found anything but wanting.
A celebration of John's life is planned for Monday, April 14, 2025, 11 a.m., at the Greene-Robertson Funeral Home, 600 River View Drive, Sutton, West Virginia. The final resting place will be at the Skidmore Cemetery, Sutton, West Virginia.