Edward McGanon

McGANNON, Edward J.Jr. “Eddie Mac”, 83, of Wheeling WV, died Monday, November 17, 2008 at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown WV. Born in Wheeling WV on November 24, 1924, Ed was the son of the late Edward J. and Geraldine Clifton McGannon. As a teenager, he enjoyed working his summer vacations on a relative’s farm in Cameron, WV. He was a retired police officer with the City of Wheeling, serving for 26 years as a motorcycle policeman and often seen patrolling the streets of Wheeling on his Harley Davidson. Ed also worked for the Security Department of Wheeling College and was head of security for Stone and Thomas in Wheeling. Additionally, he pulled double duty by playing Santa Claus for a number of years at Stone and Thomas. A member of St. Joseph Cathedral, Ed was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 38 and a member of the Warwood Vets Club. He was a Navy veteran of both WWII and the Korean Conflict. After learning his cousin survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ed enlisted in the Navy the very next day, later surviving the sinking of his destroyer after a kamikaze plane slammed into it during the battle of Okinawa in June of 1945. In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Elias McGannon, his daughter, Kathleen Kas P. Sworden, and his sister, Dolores McGannon. Surviving are two sons, Edward M. McGannon and his wife Catherine of Medina, OH, and Kevin M. McGannon and his wife Susan of North Ogden UT; one grandson, Kevin Michael McGannon of North Ogden UT; two granddaughters, Kelly A. McGannon of Washington D.C., and Amanda L. McGannon of Chicago IL; one brother, William McGannon of Lorain OH; one sister, Patricia Dean of Chesterfield MO. Friends will be received at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff St. Wheeling WV on Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 2-4 pm.