Obituary for William McGovern Jr.
William McGovern, Jr.
July 11, 1941 - January 24, 2021
William A. “Bill” McGovern, Jr., age 79, passed away on January 24, 2021 after a brief illness. The only child of the late William A. McGovern, Sr. and Ruth McGovern (nee Yeager), Bill was born in Nanticoke, PA on July 11, 1941. He grew up in Mountain Top, PA and attended Fairview High School and graduated from the former Wyoming Valley Technical Institute in 1959. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Chevalier, USS Norton Sound, and finally as a fire control technician aboard the USS Turner Joy, deployed to the western Pacific in the years immediately preceding official activities of the Vietnam War. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1964, Bill returned stateside and moved to the home of his uncle and aunt, the late Jacob and Jean Yeager Wohlgemuth, in Annapolis, MD.
There he began a career with the former C & P Telephone Company as a lineman. He constantly retold the story of taking his Maryland driver’s license exam in a company bucket truck, in downtown Annapolis, which only involved impressing the examiner that he was able to get the truck to the MVA without hitting anything. Also in 1964, he wed his childhood sweetheart, Peggyjean (nee Carey), and they began their life and family together in Glen Burnie and then Linthicum, MD. A long 27 year career as a Technical Representative with the Xerox Corporation began in 1965.
Bill, Peggy, and their four children moved from Linthicum to Forest Hill in 1974, where Bill continued his career with Xerox, from which he retired in 1997. In his spare time, he enjoyed volunteering his time to the Forest Hill Recreation Council (FHRC), as a coach to his daughter Tracy’s softball team, as the long-time manager of the concessions building, and in the role of Santa for the annual Breakfast with Santa. He was awarded a commendation from the FHRC in 2003 honoring his 25 years of service. He most enjoyed the Santa gig, which he did for many years, only “retiring” when it became apparent to him that age-related hearing loss was making it difficult for him the hear the children’s conversations. He also played the role for his grandsons’ day care facility and, for a couple of years, the Anneslie Community Association’s annual visit from Santa. He passed on the red coat and beard to his son Scott, who continues the tradition in Anneslie in his honor.
Additionally, Bill volunteered as an Assistant Scoutmaster to BSA Troop 999 in Forest Hill, was a member of Moose Lodge # 1952 in Forest Hill and American Legion Post # 39 in Bel Air, MD. In recent years, he worked as a part-time customer shuttle coordinator for Jones Junction in Fallston. He enjoyed taking his family on camping vacations and visiting with friends and family in Maryland and “up home”, as he always referred to Mountain Top.
In addition to his wife of nearly 57 years, Bill is survived by sons Scott (Sue) of Towson, MD, Brian (Candice) of Gore, VA, Kevin (Julie) of Forest Hill, and daughter Tracy Bourdeau (Ray) of Joppa, MD. He is also remembered by his nine grandchildren - Caroline, Leah, Caitlyn, Ian, Colin, Jack, Liam, Erin, and Grace. Interment will be private, at the family plot in Albert Cemetery, Mountain Top, PA. A public celebration of Bill’s life may be planned when CDC guidelines and conditions allow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
July 11, 1941 - January 24, 2021
William A. “Bill” McGovern, Jr., age 79, passed away on January 24, 2021 after a brief illness. The only child of the late William A. McGovern, Sr. and Ruth McGovern (nee Yeager), Bill was born in Nanticoke, PA on July 11, 1941. He grew up in Mountain Top, PA and attended Fairview High School and graduated from the former Wyoming Valley Technical Institute in 1959. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Chevalier, USS Norton Sound, and finally as a fire control technician aboard the USS Turner Joy, deployed to the western Pacific in the years immediately preceding official activities of the Vietnam War. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1964, Bill returned stateside and moved to the home of his uncle and aunt, the late Jacob and Jean Yeager Wohlgemuth, in Annapolis, MD.
There he began a career with the former C & P Telephone Company as a lineman. He constantly retold the story of taking his Maryland driver’s license exam in a company bucket truck, in downtown Annapolis, which only involved impressing the examiner that he was able to get the truck to the MVA without hitting anything. Also in 1964, he wed his childhood sweetheart, Peggyjean (nee Carey), and they began their life and family together in Glen Burnie and then Linthicum, MD. A long 27 year career as a Technical Representative with the Xerox Corporation began in 1965.
Bill, Peggy, and their four children moved from Linthicum to Forest Hill in 1974, where Bill continued his career with Xerox, from which he retired in 1997. In his spare time, he enjoyed volunteering his time to the Forest Hill Recreation Council (FHRC), as a coach to his daughter Tracy’s softball team, as the long-time manager of the concessions building, and in the role of Santa for the annual Breakfast with Santa. He was awarded a commendation from the FHRC in 2003 honoring his 25 years of service. He most enjoyed the Santa gig, which he did for many years, only “retiring” when it became apparent to him that age-related hearing loss was making it difficult for him the hear the children’s conversations. He also played the role for his grandsons’ day care facility and, for a couple of years, the Anneslie Community Association’s annual visit from Santa. He passed on the red coat and beard to his son Scott, who continues the tradition in Anneslie in his honor.
Additionally, Bill volunteered as an Assistant Scoutmaster to BSA Troop 999 in Forest Hill, was a member of Moose Lodge # 1952 in Forest Hill and American Legion Post # 39 in Bel Air, MD. In recent years, he worked as a part-time customer shuttle coordinator for Jones Junction in Fallston. He enjoyed taking his family on camping vacations and visiting with friends and family in Maryland and “up home”, as he always referred to Mountain Top.
In addition to his wife of nearly 57 years, Bill is survived by sons Scott (Sue) of Towson, MD, Brian (Candice) of Gore, VA, Kevin (Julie) of Forest Hill, and daughter Tracy Bourdeau (Ray) of Joppa, MD. He is also remembered by his nine grandchildren - Caroline, Leah, Caitlyn, Ian, Colin, Jack, Liam, Erin, and Grace. Interment will be private, at the family plot in Albert Cemetery, Mountain Top, PA. A public celebration of Bill’s life may be planned when CDC guidelines and conditions allow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.