Robert Edwin Mc Ghee

Robert Edwin (Bob) McGhee, 87 died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Gulfport on January 2, 2010.
Mr. McGhee was born on July 4, 1922 in Bluefield, West Virginia. He attended public schools in Bluefield and held a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations, being honorably discharged.
He served as Secretary and President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Mississippi Society of Professional Engineers. He spent his career as an engineer in various positions at Plantation Pipeline Company, Baton Rouge, LA, Mississippi City Water Company, U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Base, Gulfport and Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
Bob was a charter and active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Gulfport where he held positions of Chairman of the Official Board, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a member of the choir.
Although Mr. McGhee lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 60 years, his love of the mountains never left him. He returned many times to backpack with Boy Scouts, friends and family to pursue his lifelong dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail.
In 1982 at the age of 60 he was the 1000th person recorded to complete the more than 2000 mile trek from Georgia to Maine. His achievement was recognized by Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Robert Byrd of West Virginia in the Congressional Record.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lane Galloway and his parents Dewitt Talmadge and Mildred McMillen McGhee.
Survivors include his sister, Wilma McGhee of Gulfport; daughter, Anne McGhee Curry and son in law, Robert William Curry (Robbie) of Washington, D.C.; son William Galloway (Bill) McGhee of Gulfport; three grandchildren, Joseph William McGhee of Baton Rouge, Robert Michael McGhee of Baton Rouge and Ashley Deanne McGhee of Gulfport.
A coffee fellowship will be held in the Christian Life Center at Trinity United Methodist Church, where friends may visit with the family from noon until 1:00 p.m on Wednesday, January 6th. Funeral services will immediately follow in the church sanctuary.
A private interment will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Gulfport.
The family prefers memorial gifts to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, PO Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-9988 or Trinity United Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Ave., Gulfport, MS 39507.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements.
An obituary may be viewed and guestbook signed at www.riemannfamily.com.