Oscar J. Birle

Oscar was born and raised in Newark, N.J. After marrying, he lived in several New Jersey towns – Bloomfield, Montclair, Manasquan and Wall Township – before relocating to South Carolina in 2016.

After graduating from Seton Hall Preparatory School in South Orange, N.J., Oscar enlisted in the U.S. Navy’s V-5 (naval aviation) program and attended Drew University, Madison, N.J., and Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J. As World War II was nearing its end, he served with the fleet aboard both the USS Yosemite (AD-19) and the USS Eberle (DD-430). Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Oscar graduated from Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., before being reactivated during the Korean War and serving aboard the USS Myles C. Fox (DDR-829). He retired from active duty after having achieved the rank of Quartermaster.

Oscar worked in sales for several companies in New Jersey (among them Flintkote, PerkinElmer and Concurrent Computer Company) while pursuing numerous civic endeavors. Over the years, he served as a representative of the St. Denis Roman Catholic Church parish council in Manasquan, as a member of the Manasquan Board of Education and as president of the Homeowners Association for the Ashford Manor townhouse community in Wall.

Oscar was predeceased by his wife of 61 years Mary (nee Dailey) Birle, parents Leo and Margaret (nee Landeck) Birle and three of his children: daughter Marianne, and twin sons Peter and Oscar. He is survived by his sister Barbara Gundaker Favia, Wall Township; his daughter, Mary Ellen Maffucci, and son-in-law VJay Maffucci, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; daughter Marybeth McGinn, Andover, Mass.; and son Peter Birle and his wife Joann, Westfield, N.J.

Oscar was the adored grandfather of nine grandchildren and their spouses: Kristin (nee Maffucci) O’Halloran and her husband Sean, Wall Township; Lauren (nee Maffucci) Lepisto and her husband Garrett, Westlake Village, Calif.; Jeffrey Maffucci, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Brian Maffucci, lieutenant commander, United States Coast Guard, and his wife Carmen, captain, United States Air Force, Schertz, Texas.; Patrick McGinn, Burlington, Vt.; Peter McGinn and his wife Meghan, Fort Mill, S.C.; and John, Michael and James Birle, Westfield, N.J. He was the cherished great grandfather of Connor, Makayla and Madelyn O’Halloran; Callen and Lyla Lepisto; Celine and Alexandra Maffucci; and Daphne McGinn.

In addition to spending time with his family, Oscar loved traveling, especially by cruise ship; sunbathing on the beach watching the pelicans and boats; reading, in particular John Grisham novels; playing and winning at Jeopardy and all things trivia; and enjoying epic card games with his immediate and extended family members.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach.

For further information or to offer condolences to the Birle family, please visit the website of Lee Funeral Home, Little River, S.C., at www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/south-carolina/little-river/lee-funeral-home/5780. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Deborah Hospital Foundation, 200 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015, or on the web at http://www.deborah.org/.