Allan George McGill

August 14, 1937 -  March  12, 2021

Allan George McGill, of Williamsport, Maryland, went on to receive his Heavenly reward on March 12, 2021.  He was 83 years old.  Born in Cumberland, Maryland in 1937, he was the eldest child of Donald B. McGill and Laura Elizabeth Lepley-McGill, who preceded him in death.  Also preceding him in death are his brother, William E. McGill, and his wife Mary Lou Eaton-McGill.

He is survived by his dedicated daughter, Dana Peccon and his loving son-in-law, Kevin Peccon, Williamsport, Maryland; his brother-in-law, Earl Eaton, Jr. of Flintstone, Maryland; his brother- in-law, Robert McCullough and wife Carlene of Bedford, Pennsylvania; his sister-in-law, Patricia Zinn and husband Carl of Fort Ashby, West Virginia; his sister-in-law, Sherry Smith of LaVale, Maryland; his step-granddaughter, Alexis Peccon of Melbourne, Florida; several nieces & nephews, and the young man that called him “Pappy Allan”, Mason Eugene Bowers, of Williamsport, Maryland. 

Allan grew up in LaVale, located in the western part of Allegany County, Maryland.  As an elementary school student his peers voted him May King!  He played football and ran track for Allegany High School, where he graduated in 1956.   After high school, Allan worked with his father, Donald B. McGill Contractor & House Mover, before joining the Army Reserves in 1958 where he was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.  Allan was employed, forty-two years, by AT & T Communications in Washington, D.C., Hagerstown, and Monrovia, Maryland.  He received several awards before retiring in 1998.

His parents were charter members of LaVale Baptist Church, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Mary Lou Eaton.  They sang in the church youth choir together and participated in other church functions, until they were married there on April 2, 1960.  It was in 1964 that they moved to Williamsport, Maryland as his employer honored Allan’s request, “to be transferred to a location in the country.”

When Allan was young he enjoyed scuba diving and served on Washington County’s Rescue Team.  He volunteered in area churches, at The Maryland Theatre, and was a staple in the neighborhood for helping others when needed.  Allan loved learning, teaching, and helping others understand the importance of living a proficient life.  Allan was sweet, giving, forgiving and funny!       

Allan admired the three wooden crosses placed near interstates and mentioned in a song, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
it's what you leave behind you when you go.”  Interested in genealogy, Allan compiled a two hundred page book of the McGill family history and gave his relatives copies of the book.

 As a member of TriState Astronomers, he thoroughly enjoyed lectures from scientists.  It is surmised that he could have accomplished the same, had he chosen those pursuits.  He was brilliant.   

More importantly, Allan was an example of an American family man.  Involved in his daughter’s childhood, Allan designed elaborate stage sets for school plays, Girl Scouts and church events.  Creating a place for all of the children in the neighborhood, he designed a mini playground that included basketball, swing sets, and volleyball.  Sand boxes and see-saws were all handmade with love.  He designed a mini-golf course using PVC pipe for the holes, sand in the bottom, & metal flags as markers.  Allan maintained it for many years, even after his daughter was an adult, for the neighborhood children to play.

When his wife became ill, Allan cared for her in their home for three years, until her condition deteriorated.  The next two years Allan joined Mary Lou for dinner every evening in the nursing home.  When his wife of 59 years passed from this life to be present with the Lord, it could be said that Allan had been a faithful and loving husband all the days of his life.  Their life example demonstrated, “Serve God, by serving others.”  He is with her again, and they are undoubtedly worshipping the God they served.  “But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.  When he comes back, he will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer all else everywhere.”  Philippians 3:20-21

His family would like to express their sincere gratitude to those who showed love to Allan while he was here to receive it.  He fought a progressive cancer, remained strong for the duration and now will be laid to rest next to wife.  

The family will receive friends on Monday, March 15, 2021 at the Osborne Funeral Home, 425 South Conococheague Street, Williamsport, Maryland from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  The funeral home will be open on Monday at 12 noon for the convenience of family and friends.  At his request, interment will be private in Rest Lawn Memorial Gardens, LaVale, Maryland.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Boonsboro Family Worship Center, 7605 Old National Pike, Boonsboro, Maryland 21713. 
Online condolences may be posted for the family at: www.osbornefuneralhome.net 

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