George McPhee

George Edward McPhee of La Plata, MD, died on February 5, 2009, at the Civista Medical Center in La Plata after a month-long illness. He was born in Bottineau County, ND on March 26, 1918, son of the late George Edward McPhee and the late Wilhelmina Louise Gebhardt McPhee, on the family farm outside of West Hope, ND. George attended Arlington Grade School and Arlington High School in Arlington, SD, and was a Boy Scout and student manager of the basketball team, graduating at age 17 in 1931. He studied agricultural engineering at South Dakota State (now called SD State University) in Brookings, SD, graduating in 1939. After graduation, he was selected along with about 20 other recent engineering graduates to serve as a student trainee by the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington, DC. In July of 1941, he took leave of absence and enlisted in the Navy Flight Training Program in Corpus Christi, TX, receiving his wings in September 1942. He was deployed to the South Pacific where he served two tours and an assignment as a flight instructor in San Diego, CA between tours. After the war, he returned to REA and was assigned to South Dakota (Brookings) and then went to work for the REA Extension Service at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul. He left MN, and began a career as a home builder in Charleston, WV in 1951. He obtained a National Homes territory in Charles County, MD. He introduced pre-fabricated houses to Charles County, where he built over 80 National Home and custom homes. He also built the La Plata Diner, the La Plata Pancake House and the first regulation Little League Field in La Plata. He coached Little League for 8 years (1954 - 1962) and served four terms as Commander of the American Legion Post 82 in La Plata. At one time, he was actively involved in the Port Tobacco Players. He lived many years in Port Tobacco in a house he custom built. He retired in 1985. He and his second wife Jackie, took many wonderful trips during the 1980's and 1990's all over North America, including George's squadron reunions and reunions in Arlington, SD. He married Elizabeth LaFond Bohannon (Betty Bo) in October 1942, who died in June of 1971. They had four children, Elizabeth Hall McPhee Middleton (Betsy) of Columbia, MD; Gayle Ellen Seal of La Plata,MD; George Edward McPhee III of Jacksonville, NC; and Michael Henry McPhee of La Plata, MD. George married Jacqueline Maddox in June 1989 and she died in February of 1998. He was married to Joyce Kirk for five years (August 2001 - June 2007). He has resided at The Maples in La Plata since early 2002. He has eight grandchildren, Brian Boileau(deceased) (and Teresa) of Bel Air, MD, Audra (and Ron) Craig of Colorado Springs, CO; Patrick Seal of Columbia, MD; Edward Middleton of Odenton, MD; Christine Middleton of Washington, DC; Weston and (Ruth) McPhee of Quantico, VA; Christopher and (Christina) McPhee of Clinton, MA; and Steven McPhee of La Plata. There are also five great grandchildren, Kyle and Brett Boileau, Evan and Dillon Craig, and Rebecca McPhee. Visitation on Thursday, February 12, 2009, from 5PM to 8PM with American Legion Memorial Service at 7PM at the Raymond Funeral Service, P.A., 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD, where Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 13, 2009, at 12Noon with the Reverend Dr. Bruce Jones officiating. Interment will be private.

George McPhee

March 26, 1918 - February 5, 2009