Roy McGee

Roy C. McGee, 86, of Spring Run, PA passed away at home, Friday, February 27, 2015 with his family by his side. Born on August 13, 1928 in Chambersburg, PA he was the son of the late James Cleveland McGee and Hazel Crouse McGee. Roy and his wife Margaret were members of Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church in Spring Run. He was also a lifelong member of the McCartney Post 232 American Legion, Spring Run for which he donated some land and helped build the facilty.

Roy was entrepreneurial, beginning his working career at the former Heinz Company in Chambersburg, PA as a forklift operator where he met his loving and devoted wife of 67 years, Margaret Gettel McGee whom he married on July 19, 1947. Roy acted on his love of farming in 1948 moving to Dry Run to farm for his Uncle Charles for six years; then Pleasant Hall with his father for nine years. In 1963 Roy and Margaret purchased the two farms from his uncle in Path Valley. He developed them into a modern dairy farming operation over the next 15 years.

Roy was a Pioneer Seed Corn Dealer for many years, was instrumental in the building of a baseball field in the original Harvey Zook farm in Pleasant Hall to enable the local boys to organize and compete with other teams in the area. In 1976 Roy envisioned the building of the “Spirit of 76” and with his son Gary and Russell Wingert, the construction of Franklin County’s first tractor pulling sled became a reality.

Roy’s farming career had put in his possession several “John Deere” tractors and he received various awards from tractor pull competitions. After 30 years of farming, Roy and Margaret sold the farms and built a home on Hammond Road, Spring Run. Roy continued Custom Farming until the origination of McGee Excavating was formed with his son Ray.

In 1986, another love of Roy’s, dirt track racing and NASCAR, turned into yet another new adventure with his son Gary racing microsprints. Roy felt that Path Valley should have a racetrack to compete with Shippensburg and Hill Valley Speedways. It became a reality with his sons and daughter as he designed and built Path Valley Speedway which was completed in June of 1987 and run by the family for over 10 years. It hosted many top name drivers from in and out of the area.

In addition to his wife, Roy is survived by his sister Lois Walter; his daughter and caregiver Judy Timmons and husband Guy; two sons, Gary J. McGee and wife Kathy, and Ray C. McGee and wife Sandra all of Spring Run; eight grandchildren, Tina, Rushele, Von, Tana, McKenzie, Donovon, Cassidy, and Katie; nine great grandchildren Gabriella, Finn, Mikell, London, Gulianna, Royce, Taylum, Nevaeh, and Macileigh; four step grandchildren and eleven step great grandchildren and two step great-great grandchildren. Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers Glenn and Merle McGee.

The family wishes to extend a very special “thank you” to Roy’s caregivers, Bethany, Vickie, and April.

Funeral services to honor Roy’s life will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 11:00AM at Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church, 16950 Main Street, Spring Run, PA. Rev. Dr. Meagan Boozer and Rev. Marlin A. “Butch” Neil will officiate. Interment will follow in Upper Path Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Path Valley Outreach, 11057 Creek Rd., Fannettsburg, PA 17221.