McGill, Louis Charles
Louis Charles McGill, beloved father and grandfather passed away surrounded by family members on the 30th day of December 2023, in his apartment at English Meadows Assisted Living in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was 94 years old. Born in April 1929 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Lou had been a more than 50-year resident of Virginia Beach before relocating to Blacksburg in 2022.
He is survived by three sons, Christopher McGill and wife Donna of Placitas, NM, Dr. Thomas McGill and wife Stefani of Lubbock, TX and David McGill and wife Tina of Blacksburg, VA. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lou was predeceased by a daughter, Sue Ann Cowen, and his wife of 58 years, Rebecca Lucille McGill.
Louis McGill was raised in western Pennsylvania and with the onset of World War II made every effort to enlist for service in 1944 but was returned home each time due to his young age. Finally, in 1946 at the age of 17 he was permitted to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, in which he served for 20 years until 1966. Primarily, Lou was based at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Tustin, CA but deployed to Japan and other locations in the Pacific during his tenure, reaching the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He was a Korean War veteran.
In 1967, he relocated his family to Virginia Beach and began a two-decade career as a civil servant with the Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit at NAS Oceana. Lou coached his boys in baseball and took them fishing, guided his daughter in rebuilding her 1967 Chevy Camaro and was a doting grandfather. He loved working in his wood shop and, in addition, Lou and Becky became dedicated members of Spring Branch Community Church in Virginia Beach.
The McGill family would like to especially thank the many friends and military veterans that enriched the lives of Lou and Becky for so many years during their time in Virginia Beach together. Lou will be remembered by his family and many friends as a man who touched the lives of everyone he met.
A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship Church, 2300 N. Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060 at 2:30pm. The Celebration of Life will follow burial with Military Honors at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 5550 Bagging Plant Road, Dublin, VA 24084, which will take place at 1:00pm the same day.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society of Montgomery County (hsmcshelter.com).
