Ted McGeary

Ted McGeary died peacefully on Saturday February 15, 2025, surrounded by family at the age of ninety-six.  The last words he uttered were “Where is Betty at?”  His wife of fifty-eight years, Betty Jean McGeary, predeceased Ted in 2011, but she was constantly in his thoughts and conversations.

Ted was born April 22, 1928, in Elwood City Pennsylvania to David and Birdie McGeary.  He was the third of three children; his siblings were Robert McGeary and Dorothy (McGeary) Van Balen.  He is survived by four of his five children, (his eldest James McGeary unfortunately passed away in 2023) Robert McGeary of Harrisburg PA, Maureen (McGeary) Thomas of Charlotte NC, Matthew McGeary and his wife, Charlie, of Patterson Heights PA, and Sarah McGeary of Sewickley PA.  Ted and Betty have fourteen grandchildren; Jessie Courson, Scott McGeary, Kyle McGeary, Tedi McGeary, Max McGeary, Marc McGeary, James Kittridge, Clayton McGeary, Rachel Manko, Tanner Kenyon, Madison Cofield, Alexa Manko, Abby McGeary, and Quinn McGeary.  They also have eight great grandchildren… so far.  Ted and Betty were an active uncle and aunt to nieces and nephews: the McGeary’s, the Greene’s, the Van Balen’s, the Connell’s, and the Cahall’s. 

Ted was a child of the Great Depression, and it left an indelible mark on him.  As a young boy he would pull a wagon up and down the streets of Coraopolis selling candy bars to his neighbors.  He also delivered newspapers, all in an effort to eke out some income in very tough times.  Throughout his life Ted would be conscious of saving for economic downturns.  He worked for Bell Telephone for forty-three years before taking “early” retirement at age sixty-three.  When the phone company went on strike, Ted took temporary work at 84 Lumber.  We suspect he put in more overtime hours than anyone else at Bell.  Upon retirement, Ted had so much time accrued in unused sick days and unused vacation days that Bell had to pay him a salary for another year.

Ted was deployed to West Germany in 1950 as part of the occupying force post World War Two.  He achieved the rank of Sergeant and was in charge of secure communications in the US Army bases that included the use of early cryptographic devices.  He was honorably discharged in 1952.  Upon returning stateside, Ted earned his GED.

Ted and Betty were active and faithful members of the First Baptist Church of Coraopolis along with his mother Birdie for five decades.  Ted enjoyed helping at the church by cutting grass on weekends and other grounds maintenance duties.

Ted was an avid hunter and enjoyed small game and deer hunting seasons with his friends and his sons.  Ted’s friends and peers often called him TJ for short.  This was more of a nod to his nickname of “Tough Job” than to his initials.  Everybody knew that Ted was not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting hard work accomplished.

He will be remembered best, by all that knew him, as a man that never lost the ability to find joy in life, and as someone with the unique gift to make others feel loved in subtle but powerful ways.

Visitation hours will be Thursday February 27th and Friday February 28th at Copeland Funeral Home, 981 Brodhead Rd, Moon Twp, PA 15108.  The hours for visitation will be 2pm to 4 pm and 6pm to 8 pm each day.  The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 1st at Copeland’s at 11 am.  The service will then travel to Sylvania Hills Cemetery in Rochester PA for a brief graveside ceremony that will include an honor guard salute.  A reception will be held at the Event Center at the Cemetery immediately following the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family suggests that donations be sent to Ted’s favorite charity, “Running Strong for Native American Youth” at https://indianyouth.org/give/  If you comment “In memory of Ted McGeary” they will appreciate it.