Eddy "Mac" Joe Lee McKibben "Mac"

Mac was the fourth of six boys born to Glenn Dennis and Floy McKibben in Cleburne Texas. Preceded in death by Bobby (Vonnie) and Billy (Doris), survived by brothers John (Jo), Jimmy, and Kenneth (Margaret). After the death of his father Mac ran away to join the Navy, but was brought back. The second time, his mother agreed to let him enlist. As the catcher on his high school’s championship baseball team Mac was asked to join the Navy’s recruit team in San Diego. His answer, “No Sir, I joined the Navy to see the world.” So they made him a fireman and shipped him off. He was part of an Antarctica winter-over, was caught in fall-out from the Bikini Island Nuclear testing, and pounded ground in Vietnam. With only 10 years of formal schooling, Mac had the ability to look over a piece of equipment and figure out how it worked and how to fix it. He quickly moved up the ranks making Chief Boiler Technician in 1967. He ended his Naval career teaching boiler technology at 32nd Street Naval Station in 1973. He would have remained in the service but was needed at home to care for two small children. He moved to Spring Valley where he met the love of his life, Jacque, while listening to the Rolling Stones song, “You Can’t Always Get what You Want”. He told Jacque she could take anything, so she did. They eloped on August 28th 1976, with Jacque’s 5 year old son, Jimmy, as Best Man. They celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary in London, with front row tickets to a Rolling Stones concert. Mac is survived by Jimmy Hicks (Jessica), John (LaVonne), Joe (Kelly) and Sabrina McKibben from this marriage and Debra, Sean, Eddy, and Tammy from previous marriages, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mac and Jacque opened their Lemon Grove home to many young people, Andrew DesLauriers, Mike Minton, Mark Gayer, Rick Walker, and Ryan Day among others. Mac retired again as Utilities Supervisor Navy Public Works Center San Diego in 2000 and started McKibben Trucking with two end-dumps and son, Joe, driving with him. Mac was the Chairman of the Datsun Owners of America and Vice Chairman of The San Diego Asebring Drivers. He and Jacque slalomed and showed Datsun Roadster’s. He loved riding his 1974 Harley-Davidson and playing bass guitar.

Visitation will be at Conrad’s Mortuary Wednesday May 21, 2014, 7387 Broadway, Lemon Grove. With the funeral at the Miramar National Cemetery Thursday May 22nd at 10am with a luncheon at the Michael Mansour Lemon Grove VFW 2082 following.

Arrangements under the direction of Conrad Lemon Grove Mortuary, Lemon Grove, CA.