W. Glenn McCoy

W. Glenn McCoy, 102, formerly of Girard, Ohio, passed away Sunday, September 13, 2020, after a brief illness and short stay at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Salisbury, NC.  He was born in Beaver Township, PA on August 25, 1918 and survived Polio at the age of 5.  After his Dad passed, he spent ten years in an orphanage, along with his five siblings.  There, his job was to bake bread, 25 loaves each weekday and 50 on Saturday.  He attended Pittsburgh Public Schools where he played clarinet in the band.  At the age of 18, he moved to Ohio to join his Mother and older siblings and attended his senior year at Girard High School, graduating from the class of 1937.  He worked at Isaly’s Dairy in Girard and Mr. B’s Haberdashery in Youngstown.  During World War II, he served in the United States Army in Military Intelligence and was stationed in Washington D.C. There he met and married the love of his life, Wilma Jean “Billy” Jones, a member of the U.S. Navy, who was also in Military Intelligence.  He helped raise a family of three children, worked as an Industrial Engineer and retired from General Fireproofing Business Equipment in Youngstown, after 31 years.  He was a faithful and active member of the Girard First United Methodist Church, where he served on committees and sang Tenor in the choir for 57 years. He was also a long-time member of the American Legion. Two years after the passing of his wife, he moved to Winston-Salem, NC where he had resided for the last 16 years, with his youngest daughter and her two daughters. Glenn loved listening to music.  His favorite was the Big Band sound.  He also cherished the beautiful church music performed together by his daughter Shelley on the grand piano and by organist, Bonnie.  He was a former State Highway Patrol Auxiliary, Girard Little League Coach, a long time ticket holder for GHS Football, an avid golfer, a big fan and supporter of his children, grandchildren and other family members’ sports and music activities.  He loved watching professional golf and college football on TV.  The annual Army vs. Navy football game was a fun and friendly rivalry with his wife.  Glenn never met a stranger and always had a story to tell.  He enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest, with a smile on his face and an encouraging word.  Family was most important to him.  His love, light and legacy will be remembered by his daughter, Jill Harrell; his son-in-law Joe Shelby; his son Bill McCoy; his  brother-in-law Robert Whitfield; his grandchildren Joe (Lori) Shelby, Jr., Pete (Amy) Shelby, Matthew (Mallory) Shelby, Caitlin Harrell and Annie Harrell; and his great grandchildren, Mackenzie Shelby, “JJ” Shelby, and McCoy Shelby. He also leaves his nieces and nephews and their families, whom he loved dearly as if they were his own.  He was preceded in death by his “ever loving wife” Billy, his talented daughter Shelley, his five siblings and their spouses: Margaret (Pat) Sedgwick, Harold (Peg) McCoy, Lois (Frank) Ellis, Rozella (Russ) Pritchard, Thelma Woodford, Ken Woodford, and his wife’s sister, Audrey Whitfield, as well as his many friends.  A celebration of The Real McCoy’s life will be held at a later time when it is safe and appropriate to gather together.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Girard First United Methodist Church Choir Fund, 22 N. Market St., Girard, Ohio 44420.