Obituary of George A. McKinney Sr.

McKinney, Sr., George A. (“Reds”), 76, of Ship Bottom, NJ, passed away suddenly of Septic Shock from an infected AV Graft on Thursday, July 26, 2018, in Manahawkin, surrounded by his loving family. Born in 1941 in Philadelphia, Reds also lived in Croydon and Bensalem, PA, before moving to Ship Bottom.

Reds was the son of the late George and Ethel McKinney of Montage, PA.  He is survived by his cherished wife of 57 years, Joyce McKinney. Reds was loved by his children and their spouses: Pam McKinney, Sherri Szafranski and her husband Edward of Ship Bottom, NJ, Daniel Hocker and his wife Christina of Pottstown, PA, Connie Skinner and her husband William of Philadelphia, PA, Jennifer McKinney, and George McKinney, Jr., and his wife Megan of Manahawkin, NJ.

Reds was devoted to his six grandchildren who called him “Poppy”: Dennis Culver of Levittown, PA, Dean Culver and Andrea Shouldice of Browns Mills, NJ, George Kreuzburg and his wife Mandy of Coopersburg, PA, Grace Szafranski of Ship Bottom, NJ, and George McKinney 3rd and Aubrey McKinney of Manahawkin NJ. Poppy was also adored by seven great grandchildren: Damen, Brooklyn, Landen and Kally Culver and McKennsie, Cole and Jack Kreuzburg.  He is also survived by his sister Barbara Ann Meehan and her husband Mike of Bensalem, PA.

Reds was a US Navy veteran and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He attended Delhaas High of Bristol, PA, class of 1962. He was a lifetime member of the Bristol Bucks County Rescue Squad, serving as an EMT, Sergeant at Arms, and past Chief.  He was also a lifetime member of the Christ Episcopal Church, Bensalem, PA, and a Brethren of the Masonic Temple, Pilgrim Lodge #712, of Philadelphia.

Although he suffered a lifelong battle with heart disease, during periods of good health Reds enjoyed employment variously as a welder for McHugh Locomotive & Equipment and a Foreman for ENR Craftmatic Beds and Tuesday Industries Pipe Co., all in Bucks County, PA.

Reds loved doing everything including just hanging out with his family and grandkids. He was an avid NASCAR fan and he loved reading, movies, going to Stewards Drive-in, old Chevy cars, crabbing and island life at the shore. He could build, make, fix or create anything with his assortment of talents and tools: duct tape and cable ties. He had a crazy obsession with flashlights, pen knives, watches, Band-Aids, and pens and liked to hide his mints, lollypops, Reese’s, and peanut butter Tastykakes. He was a jokester, trickster, and clown, who was incapable of posing seriously for a photo. His favorite clown act was dressing in silly outfits for the family.

Reds will be profoundly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial gathering and military service will be held at Washington Crossing National Military Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA, on Monday, September 10, 2018, at 1:00 pm EDT.