WHITEVILLE -- Ed Lane McGirt, 89, United States Navy Gunner's Mate First Class, died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. The son of Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt. Ed was born March 1, 1920, in Whiteville, N.C., in Columbus County.
After growing up at what was locally known as McGirt Crossroads in Columbus County, he joined the Navy in September 1939 and served in World War II for the duration of the war. In the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Arkansas, the USS Denver, and the USS Ganymede in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His Naval career started on the Arkansas with Eastern Atlantic patrol. In 1942, while serving on the Denver, Ed was named a Gunner's Mate First Class, and, ultimately, his Naval career took him to Guadalcanal, Australia, the Panama Canal, Kula Gulf in Japan, the Philippines, and the New Hebrides Islands. In 1945, at the end of the war, Ed received his discharge papers, and he returned to Columbus County via San Francisco, Calif., in October.
On Nov. 17, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Claire Jane Brooks, at Evergreen Methodist Church. They lived in Whiteville for a brief period before moving to Wilson, where their only daughter, Brooks, was born. They then lived in Columbia, S.C., briefly, and they moved back to Whiteville in 1951. At that time, Ed joined the oil and gas company W.D. Brooks, Inc., where he served as manager of operations. He retired from Brooks Oil Company in 1982 at age 62.
A long-time member of the Whiteville United Methodist Church, Ed served for more than 30 years as a church usher, most of those years as head usher. It was a position he held with pride and dedication. Ed also served the community of Whiteville as a member and president of the Whiteville Lions Club. He was an active member of the Lions Club for 55 years and received his lifetime membership when he retired. Over the years, he and many of his fellow shipmates from the USS Arkansas participated in many reunions to celebrate their service to the United States.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Claire Jane Brooks McGirt; their daughter, Rachel Brooks McGirt Maxwell; his parents, Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt; and three brothers, Joseph Ward McGirt, Duncan Enoch (D.E.) McGirt Jr., and John Howell McGirt.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Leslie Caroline Maxwell of Fairfax, Va.; his son-in-law, James Wilson Maxwell of Huntersville; his sister, Margaret Faye McGirt Swaffar of Cincinnati, Ohio; his brother, Ralph Sadler McGirt; and his wife, Lucille Stevens McGirt of Hartsville, S.C.; his brother-in-law, William Dannelly Brooks Jr. and his wife, Sara Floyd Brooks; his sister-in-law, Mary Powell McGirt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
After growing up at what was locally known as McGirt Crossroads in Columbus County, he joined the Navy in September 1939 and served in World War II for the duration of the war. In the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Arkansas, the USS Denver, and the USS Ganymede in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His Naval career started on the Arkansas with Eastern Atlantic patrol. In 1942, while serving on the Denver, Ed was named a Gunner's Mate First Class, and, ultimately, his Naval career took him to Guadalcanal, Australia, the Panama Canal, Kula Gulf in Japan, the Philippines, and the New Hebrides Islands. In 1945, at the end of the war, Ed received his discharge papers, and he returned to Columbus County via San Francisco, Calif., in October.
On Nov. 17, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Claire Jane Brooks, at Evergreen Methodist Church. They lived in Whiteville for a brief period before moving to Wilson, where their only daughter, Brooks, was born. They then lived in Columbia, S.C., briefly, and they moved back to Whiteville in 1951. At that time, Ed joined the oil and gas company W.D. Brooks, Inc., where he served as manager of operations. He retired from Brooks Oil Company in 1982 at age 62.
A long-time member of the Whiteville United Methodist Church, Ed served for more than 30 years as a church usher, most of those years as head usher. It was a position he held with pride and dedication. Ed also served the community of Whiteville as a member and president of the Whiteville Lions Club. He was an active member of the Lions Club for 55 years and received his lifetime membership when he retired. Over the years, he and many of his fellow shipmates from the USS Arkansas participated in many reunions to celebrate their service to the United States.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Claire Jane Brooks McGirt; their daughter, Rachel Brooks McGirt Maxwell; his parents, Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt; and three brothers, Joseph Ward McGirt, Duncan Enoch (D.E.) McGirt Jr., and John Howell McGirt.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Leslie Caroline Maxwell of Fairfax, Va.; his son-in-law, James Wilson Maxwell of Huntersville; his sister, Margaret Faye McGirt Swaffar of Cincinnati, Ohio; his brother, Ralph Sadler McGirt; and his wife, Lucille Stevens McGirt of Hartsville, S.C.; his brother-in-law, William Dannelly Brooks Jr. and his wife, Sara Floyd Brooks; his sister-in-law, Mary Powell McGirt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
WHITEVILLE -- Ed Lane McGirt, 89, United States Navy Gunner's Mate First Class, died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. The son of Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt. Ed was born March 1, 1920, in Whiteville, N.C., in Columbus County.
After growing up at what was locally known as McGirt Crossroads in Columbus County, he joined the Navy in September 1939 and served in World War II for the duration of the war. In the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Arkansas, the USS Denver, and the USS Ganymede in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His Naval career started on the Arkansas with Eastern Atlantic patrol. In 1942, while serving on the Denver, Ed was named a Gunner's Mate First Class, and, ultimately, his Naval career took him to Guadalcanal, Australia, the Panama Canal, Kula Gulf in Japan, the Philippines, and the New Hebrides Islands. In 1945, at the end of the war, Ed received his discharge papers, and he returned to Columbus County via San Francisco, Calif., in October.
On Nov. 17, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Claire Jane Brooks, at Evergreen Methodist Church. They lived in Whiteville for a brief period before moving to Wilson, where their only daughter, Brooks, was born. They then lived in Columbia, S.C., briefly, and they moved back to Whiteville in 1951. At that time, Ed joined the oil and gas company W.D. Brooks, Inc., where he served as manager of operations. He retired from Brooks Oil Company in 1982 at age 62.
A long-time member of the Whiteville United Methodist Church, Ed served for more than 30 years as a church usher, most of those years as head usher. It was a position he held with pride and dedication. Ed also served the community of Whiteville as a member and president of the Whiteville Lions Club. He was an active member of the Lions Club for 55 years and received his lifetime membership when he retired. Over the years, he and many of his fellow shipmates from the USS Arkansas participated in many reunions to celebrate their service to the United States.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Claire Jane Brooks McGirt; their daughter, Rachel Brooks McGirt Maxwell; his parents, Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt; and three brothers, Joseph Ward McGirt, Duncan Enoch (D.E.) McGirt Jr., and John Howell McGirt.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Leslie Caroline Maxwell of Fairfax, Va.; his son-in-law, James Wilson Maxwell of Huntersville; his sister, Margaret Faye McGirt Swaffar of Cincinnati, Ohio; his brother, Ralph Sadler McGirt; and his wife, Lucille Stevens McGirt of Hartsville, S.C.; his brother-in-law, William Dannelly Brooks Jr. and his wife, Sara Floyd Brooks; his sister-in-law, Mary Powell McGirt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
After growing up at what was locally known as McGirt Crossroads in Columbus County, he joined the Navy in September 1939 and served in World War II for the duration of the war. In the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Arkansas, the USS Denver, and the USS Ganymede in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His Naval career started on the Arkansas with Eastern Atlantic patrol. In 1942, while serving on the Denver, Ed was named a Gunner's Mate First Class, and, ultimately, his Naval career took him to Guadalcanal, Australia, the Panama Canal, Kula Gulf in Japan, the Philippines, and the New Hebrides Islands. In 1945, at the end of the war, Ed received his discharge papers, and he returned to Columbus County via San Francisco, Calif., in October.
On Nov. 17, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Claire Jane Brooks, at Evergreen Methodist Church. They lived in Whiteville for a brief period before moving to Wilson, where their only daughter, Brooks, was born. They then lived in Columbia, S.C., briefly, and they moved back to Whiteville in 1951. At that time, Ed joined the oil and gas company W.D. Brooks, Inc., where he served as manager of operations. He retired from Brooks Oil Company in 1982 at age 62.
A long-time member of the Whiteville United Methodist Church, Ed served for more than 30 years as a church usher, most of those years as head usher. It was a position he held with pride and dedication. Ed also served the community of Whiteville as a member and president of the Whiteville Lions Club. He was an active member of the Lions Club for 55 years and received his lifetime membership when he retired. Over the years, he and many of his fellow shipmates from the USS Arkansas participated in many reunions to celebrate their service to the United States.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Claire Jane Brooks McGirt; their daughter, Rachel Brooks McGirt Maxwell; his parents, Duncan Enoch McGirt Sr. and Rose Marie Howell McGirt; and three brothers, Joseph Ward McGirt, Duncan Enoch (D.E.) McGirt Jr., and John Howell McGirt.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Leslie Caroline Maxwell of Fairfax, Va.; his son-in-law, James Wilson Maxwell of Huntersville; his sister, Margaret Faye McGirt Swaffar of Cincinnati, Ohio; his brother, Ralph Sadler McGirt; and his wife, Lucille Stevens McGirt of Hartsville, S.C.; his brother-in-law, William Dannelly Brooks Jr. and his wife, Sara Floyd Brooks; his sister-in-law, Mary Powell McGirt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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