The Story

Kenneth George McCarthy
1 June 1939- 17 April 2015


Our father Ken, was born to William George McCarthy and Irene V. Clancy McCarthy on the 1st of June 1939 in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was brother to Donald, Eleanor, and Joseph McCarthy.

He attended Boston College and earned a Bachelor degree in Economics. Upon completion of his degree he entered into the US Navy and attended Preflight School in Pensacola, Florida and Navigational Officers School in Corpus Christi, Texas. He soon became a Navy Flight Officer.

In December 1964 he married Rosemary Beale in Corpus Christi, Texas and together they had three children, William, Shannon and Joseph McCarthy. They lived in Newfoundland, Virginia, Iran and California. Our father conducted three tours in Vietnam as a P3 Navigation Flight Officer and received multiple Commendations for his service (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Korean operations, Navy Unit Commendation, three Vietnam service medals, National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal).

Later, as a member of Lockheed Martin Company, he and the family were stationed in Bandar Abbas, Iran, as he was part of the VP31 Iranian training detachment for the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) who ordered six P-3F Orions from Lockheed Martin.

Upon returning to California, he left Lockheed and began his career in the semi-conductor business and stayed in that industry until he retired at 60. After some time teaching golf in Muscat, Oman, while living with Shannon, he selected Pattaya, Thailand as the location in which he wanted to spend his golden years.

He chose Pattaya primarily for the beautiful climate and the numerous pristine golf courses it offered. Our father was an avid golfer: a day on the course brought him great pleasure.

He loved life and greater than the sorrow of his death is the joy and laughter he spread. He was always there when his family and friends needed him and he always knew how to enjoy the day.

He gave us so much love and kindness, lessons and wisdom, and it is this that will continue to guide us through our lives.

We thank all the friends, the VFW Post 9876, his wife Gob and her family for the warmth and support you showed to our father and us during this tragic time.

May you rest in peace our dear and beloved father. We thank you for all that you gave to us, and so many others. We love you.

Shannon, Joe and Bill McCarthy
22 April 2015