Lee H McGarvey

Lee is survived by his devoted wife Veryl. They were married for nearly 57 years … their introduction by mutual friends became “love-at-first sight” for both of them which grew stronger with each year. He is also survived by his son David (Bonnie), son Steven (Debbie), daughter Lynda (Richard), daughter-in-law Melanie (David) and grandsons Tim, Sean and Brent. He is further survived by his sister Alice (Vern), brother Ron (Joy), brother-in-law Bill (Sandy) as well as 3 nieces, 3 nephews, many other extended family members, and friends who became like family to Lee.

Lee was born on April 25, 1938 to Harold and Virginia McGarvey in Buffalo, NY, where he spent his childhood years. The family moved to DuBois, PA when Lee was in junior high school. Upon graduation from DuBois High School, class of 1956, Lee (along with several close high school friends) joined the Navy where he served four years, most of them as a Combat Air Crewman, AT-2 [Aviation Technician Petty Officer 2nd class] flying in the AD Skyraider from the deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific, and later from North Island, San Diego. Over the years he maintained Navy ties by visiting friends in various parts of the country and through his membership in his squadron VC-35/VA(AW)-35, VAN team 61. In recent years he attended the squadron reunions, sharing “his Navy movies” that he had shot on board the ship. On his 69th birthday he and a Navy squadron friend were guests of the USS Midway in San Diego where they spent the day turning back the clock and reliving adventures of their youth on the deck of the Bon Homme.

After an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, Lee returned to DuBois and enrolled at Penn State, where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1962, and he and Veryl moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where Lee had been offered a position with Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale. Following his employment there, he spent 33 years with Western Electric, Pacific Bell & AT&T. He is a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He retired in 1996 from the phone company as Resident Engineering Manager, Statewide Line Engineering, and began enjoying life in the Sierra foothills with his wife. They bought a vacation home near Arnold where he had his ‘man-cave’, and enjoyed the mountain lakes, walking among the giant Sequoia trees at the nearby state park, and beautiful snowy days! He loved when the entire family would venture up and slow down to enjoy the cabin with them.

Although Lee and Veryl raised their family on the West Coast, they always stayed true to their East Coast family ties and worked hard to make sure their children remained in touch with their Pennsylvania roots … grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins— as well as his and Veryl’s friends. Lee enjoyed reconnecting with high school friends at class reunions, and on each visit to DuBois he also checked on the nearby family cabin that he and his father built in the mid-1950’s. Countless trips back east were made for 50+ years to enjoy this time with family and friends, and to also expose his children to the rich history and natural wonders back there as well. On his last trip he felt privileged to visit the 9-11 memorial site in Shanksville, PA, where Flight #93 was crashed after the 40 passengers on board made the solemn decision to lay down their lives if necessary for their fellow countrymen. Deep in his heart Lee understood that mindset because he had come to realize that was part of what he had agreed to when he joined the Navy those many years earlier.

Lee was so much more than words on a page. He was a devoted husband, an amazing father and a servant to the Lord and his country. He loved his friends and his family more than anything and would never miss an opportunity to be with them. He would travel any time to watch a ballgame, participate in a tailgate, attend an Indy 500 or NASCAR race, go backpacking and fishing with his sons and grandsons or simply sit and enjoy their company. Some of the family’s fondest memories include weekends on the lake — boating and waterskiing. Pastor Jim said he was always impressed that the family could spend so much time at the lake but would so often be able to make it back to church on Sundays!

Lee enjoyed outside activities like sailing, backpacking, waterskiing, spending a day at the ocean, or walking around Monterey, Santa Cruz or San Francisco. For ten years, except in really bad weather, he rode his bicycle to work from Milpitas to Sunnyvale. He liked the family trips to spring training in Phoenix, fishing in Canada or simply taking road trips to visit family and friends. He enjoyed working with his hands … he was an enthusiastic woodworker, and a competent auto mechanic from the time he bought his first car in high school. He was a lover of photography and, like his dad before him, had a dark room at home. He was an admirer of the work of Ansel Adams, and loved that the whole family traveled together in a big van to Yosemite for his 70th Birthday to celebrate two of the things that mattered most to him: his family and the beauty of nature.

Lee had a strong relationship with the Lord. He and Veryl were founding members of the First Presbyterian Church (Christ Community Church) in Milpitas, California and were recently honored as loyal members of the church for 50 years. Lee was ordained as one of the first elders in the new church, and served for many years as Clerk of Session and as chairman of numerous church committees. Lee knew that his responsibility as a father was to live a Christ-filled life to the best of his ability, and lead by example for his family, which was evident in the children he and Veryl have raised. They respect him as their father, but also know how much he truly enjoyed being around them as their friend.

Lee loved with every choice he made, every event he attended, every joke he cracked, every story he told and every moment he listened. He raised his kids with honor, encouraging them to make good choices and to live with integrity. They always knew how much they were loved.

Lee Harold McGarvey did what we all desire to do; live a life well lived. In writing this, we realize that it is longer than the average obituary, but we wanted all those friends and family who read it to be reminded of him in the many facets of his life and the ways in which they are now remembering him.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Lee McGarvey will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at 3:00pm, at Christ Community Church in Milpitas, 1000 South Park Victoria Drive, followed by a reception and a time of fellowship.

Lee will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery with military honors on March 4.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the music ministry of Christ Community Church of Milpitas, or to Compassion International, an organization through which Lee and Veryl have for many years sponsored children living in poverty — providing food, medical care, an education, vocational training, teaching from the Word of God, and financial support for their families. (Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO, 80962)