George W. McKay

Major George William McKay, USAF (Ret.) born January 12, 1923 in Pennsylvania went to the Lord on November 16, 2012. Major McKay was the loving husband of wife Donna Fulton McKay. He is preceded in death by his mother Eva May Davis and his father George McKay, his sister Nellie McKay Bone, his nephew Michael A. Bone, his daughter Gayle Marceau and daughter Darcey Case. He is survived by his son Daniel McKay and his wife Carol with Grandson Michael, his son Dr. David McKay, MD and his wife Nancy with grandsons Jess and Kyle, his son Michael and wife Pam with grandsons Morgan and Mason, his step-daughter Venicia "Van" Hancock and husband Bill Hancock with grandchildren Melissa McClelland, Stephen Price, Robert, and Luke Hancock, and his step-son Tom Vannortwick. He is survived by Gayle's sons Billy and John Allen and Darcey’s daughter, Jessica Henderson. He is also survived by many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. He is also survived by his niece Sally Leberman of Pennsylvania and nephew Robert T. Bone of Georgia as well as many great and great great nieces and nephews. Major McKay was retired from the Air Force and served as a Reserve Officer as well in the USAF; he retired as an Air Traffic Controller from the Roanoke Regional Airport; and served as a government employee. He served in World War II and Korea as a bombardier/navigator. Among his honors, he was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, and Japanese Occupation Medal. Also, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal. He performed duties of bombardier on B-24 aircraft in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Major McKay located, identified, and accurately bombed assigned targets from a bombardment airplane by reference to maps and aerial photographs furnished during briefing. He inspected and tested bomb racks and fuses. He conducted mechanical checks of bombsight and related equipment, adjusted for varying conditions of ground speed, altitude, drift, etc. by use of mathematical tables. He served as a gunnery officer for aircraft with knowledge of meteorology, aerial gunnery, pilotage and dead reckoning navigation. Major McKay remained a lifetime member of the Air Force Association, Roanoke Chapter, and served in many offices, but primarily as treasurer for numerous years. In addition, he was active at the state level for decades. He also remained a lifetime member and held many offices in the Military Order of World Wars, Roanoke Chapter, and was a lifetime member of the Military Officers of America Association. Major McKay loved his family immensely, remained a loving and devoted husband, loyal to the USAF throughout his lifetime, and loved God and his church as he served as a member of Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, Roanoke, VA. He will be greatly missed by his wife Donna, family and friends. Special thanks is extended to Sandra Mullins and Michael Robertson, caretakers, Henry Rescue Squad, Dr. Bumgardner and staff, Blair Fulton, Dr. Jo Anne Juncker, Cathie and Bill McGinnis, Janet Osborne, the community of Henry, Ministers Gary Robbins and Arthur Grant, and above all, the administration and special education staff at Franklin County High School who supported this difficult and challenging process. Above all, a special thank you is expressed to George's stepchild Tom Vannortwick for always being there for his stepfather George at any time and was magnanimous in doing so. Arrangements for a memorial service celebrating Major George McKay’s life will be announced at a later date by Lynch Conner Bowman Funeral Home, 140 Floyd Avenue, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 (540) 483 5533