| Notes |
- San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times, October 19, 2014
John "Jack" A. & Virginia B. McCarthy
Residents of Morgan Hill
Jack A. McCarthy was born September 6, 1924 in Sacramento, and raised in Oakland. He told many happy stories from his youth including biking to and from San Francisco and boating at Lake Merritt. In 1943 Jack enlisted into the Army and as a Paratrooper, 17th Airborne, was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was there that he met the love of his life, Virginia Bassett, while on a blind date at a USO dance. Shortly after, his unit was called to duty overseas to engage in what became known as The Battle of the Bulge. Jack sustained a serious head injury, but with his strong spirit and much rehabilitation he was able to return to the States to marry his southern bride on July 7th, 1945. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his contributions to this battle.
Jack earned his degree from a business college in Berkeley and worked various professions until he settled into the insurance business.
Virginia was born April 16, 1925 and raised in LaGrange, Georgia. She was studious and musical, loving to read and play the piano. Virginia earned her 1st college degree in LaGrange as a young woman and returned to school in her late forties to earn her Masters Degree in Speech and Audiology and Teaching Credential in Special Education. She worked for years in Gilroy as a teacher of children with learning disabilities. She was always interested in learning new topics as well as cultivating a healthy lifestyle and encouraging her family to follow suit.
Both Jack and Virginia retired in their late fifties to enjoy their country home in Morgan Hill. Gardening, traveling, and spending time with their six grandchildren were among their favorite activities.
After sixty-nine years of marriage and within two months of each other, they each passed peacefully at home surrounded by their loved ones. Jack passed away on July 23, 2014, and Virginia passed away on September 17, 2014. They were both laid to rest at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga. They lived well, with honesty, honor and integrity, and they are deeply loved and missed in return. They are thought of daily by the family left behind: daughter, Joan Burchfiel(Robert) of San Jose; son, Allan McCarthy (Laura) of Morgan Hill; daughter, Lynn Mazzola (Tony) of San Carlos; and grandchildren, Patrick Burchfiel, Justin & Garrett McCarthy, Carli & Jillian Kuehnis, and Valerie Mazzola.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1924 - 2014 (89 years)