Paul J Mooney Sr.

He was born Feb. 26, 1935, in Yonkers, New York, to Edward Joseph and Agnes May (Walsh) Mooney. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Ann (Apicella) Mooney, and sister Claire May Mooney.

After earning a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at Manhattan College in New York City in 1958, and marriage to Joan on Nov. 22 that year, Paul began working at Bendix Corporation in York, Pennsylvania.

He soon moved his young family to Northern Virginia to work for AMF Inc., formerly American Machine and Foundry, where he was part of a team working on a satellite instrument that flew on NASA’s Orbiting Solar Observatory. He retired in 2000 after 15 years with a U.S. Department of Energy contractor.

A lifelong radio enthusiast, Paul began tinkering with homemade crystal sets as a young boy and never really stopped. He earned his first amateur (ham) radio license at age 15, and his second in 1973, with the call sign K4KRE, which he held until his death.

He joined the Antique Wireless Association in 1981 and began attending the annual AWA conference near Rochester, New York, with his wife Joan. He continued attending for many years after her death in 1984.

Paul cherished his AWA friends, many of whom made it possible for him to stay on the air as his circumstances changed late in life — something he was able to do with generous assistance from members of the Valley Amateur Radio Association in Virginia.

He also was a model railroader with a deep interest in steam engines.

He was a longtime parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church in Annandale and supported his alma maters, Cardinal Hayes High School and the now Manhattan University, throughout his life.

First and foremost, Paul was a devoted father, husband, brother, son and son-in-law who took care of those around him.

He is survived by a son, Paul Joseph Jr., and wife Jessica; daughters Mary Ann Elizabeth Kitchen, and husband Erik; Rita Marie Baird; and Jennifer Agnes McManamay and husband Ronald; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne (Mooney) Linkous and husband James, Mark Edward Mooney, and Paul Foster Mooney and fiancée Jessica; and Jennifer Lynn Kitchen; and two great-grandchildren, Makayla Anne Linkous and Colt Foster Mooney. He is also survived by a step-grandson Carl Ray Shifflett and step-great-granddaughters Alannah, Tiannah, Rayleigh, Myah and Madeline.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 at St. Michael Catholic Church, 7401 St. Michael’s Lane, Annandale, VA, followed by a graveside service at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Road, Fairfax.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Antique Wireless Association or a charity of choice.