Mr. Houston McGinness
Mr. Houston McGinness age 97 of Carthage died at 6:53 p.m. Thursday evening November 3, 2016 at The Pavilion Senior Living in South Carthage where he had made his home since September 14th of this year.
His pastor, Eld. Charles Allen Gentry, officiated at the Sunday afternoon funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Following the 3 p.m. services interment was in the McGinness family lot in Ridgewood Cemetery.
One of three children of the late Roscoe McGinness who died June 6, 1971 at the age of 87 and Sydney Belle Bilbrey McGinness who died January 29, 1986 at the age of 99, he was born in South Carthage on March 26, 1919.
Two sisters, his only siblings, preceded Mr. McGinness in death, Kathryne McGinness Gore who died at the age of 60 on August 18, 1975 and Frances Sue McGinness Robinson who died at the age of 84 on June 24, 2006.
Mr. McGinness was a member of the 1937 graduating class at Carthage High School where he was President of the Student Council, played Owl basketball in ’35 &’36, was a member of the Allen Society, was in the Honor Club ’35 thru ‘37 and served on the staff of the Black & Gold student paper. A great believer in the power of young people, the Owl year book stated that “Almost everything that is great has been done by youth”
After high school he continued his education at Parks College of St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri where he became an aeronautical and electrical engineer.
For fifty two years he worked in the Aerospace industry in Los Angeles, California and in 1992 at the age 73 he retired and he and his beloved wife Pat returned to Mr. McGinness’s hometown of Carthage in 1993.
On June 9, 1945 he was united in marriage to Los Angeles native the former Patvee Hassall. Mrs. Pat preceded Mr. Houston in death on October 25, 1995 at the age of 75.
Mr. McGinness was also preceded in death by one of his four nephews, Keith McDonald “Don” Robinson who died June 3, 2011 at the age of 60.
Mr. McGinness was a member of the former Carthage Christian Church and after the closing of the church with the passing of Mr. A.C. “Bill” Read Jr. in in August of 1995, Mr. McGinness attended the North Carthage Baptist Church because of his great admiration for Bro. Gentry.
Surviving is his only niece, Jane Gore Moore and husband Grady of Birmingham, Alabama; four nephews, David Robinson and wife Wendy of the Turkey Creek Community, Jamie Robinson and wife Nancy of Lebanon, John Gore and wife Susan of Cookeville, Chris Williams and wife Donette of Ames, Iowa.
Mr. Houston had requested memorial to either the Boy Scouts of America, Troop #367 of Carthage or the Smith County Historical and Genealogical Society.
