Patricia Ann McGarvey

Patricia Ann McGarvey went peacefully to be with the Lord on October 15th, 2018 after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born Patricia Ann Marsteller in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, she was active in music and dance and even had her own weekly radio show as a young girl. Accepted as the first female member of the Penn State Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, she was active on campus in the college theatre program and as a yell leader at Nittany Lion football games. Commissioned as an Ensign upon graduation, she served in a variety of roles in support of the Navy’s missile test program at Point Mugu, California. In 1957 she married fellow Naval Officer and Penn State NROTC alum John James McGarvey who was then a supply officer serving on a destroyer based in Newport R.I. For the next twenty-five years she followed John to assignments from Newport to Jacksonville NC, Agana Guam, Charleston SC, Monterrey CA, Alameda CA, San Diego, CA, and Alexandria VA. Against the backdrop of frequent moves and long deployments, she lovingly raised a daughter and three sons, and served as an active leader in Navy Wives Clubs at her many duty stations. In these roles she distinguished herself as a steady hand in support of her fellow military spouses, helping to lift their spirits during the wartime deployments and other challenges of Navy life. She was a gracious hostess who loved to entertain and was well known for her themed parties and innovative party games. She was active in the church throughout her life and a beacon of spiritual light to all who knew her. Upon John’s retirement from the Navy, the couple settled in Oakland CA, where Pat pursued a career as an executive secretary in support of senior managers at the Kodak and Golden Grain corporations. The couple retired to Sun City West, Arizona, where as a breast cancer survivor, she was active as a leader in the “Bosom Buddies” breast cancer support group. She spent her final years near Cary NC where she continued to bring joy to her fellow assisted living residents through her gift of music and her wonderful sense of humor. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her sister Virginia Withers, and her children Daniel McGarvey, Sheila Kreifels, Michael McGarvey, and Tim McGarvey as well as eight grandchildren.

Patricia Ann McGarvey

December 4, 1932 - October 15, 2018