James E. McGinty, 85, of Seneca, KS, died suddenly Thursday evening, June 8, 2006, at his home.

He was born January 13, 1921, on a farm north of Seneca, the son of John and Catherine McQuaid McGinty. When he was 12 years old, the family moved into Seneca. He attended Blue Star School and Sts. Peter & Paul School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 and worked at Seneca during the construction of the dam at Lake Nemaha. He also worked in Omaha and Marysville and completed his high school education while he was with the corps.

He volunteered for the U.S. Army and was inducted on June 20, 1942. He served with the 716th Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battery in California, North Carolina, New York, Pearl Harbor, and Saipan. He was discharged on December 13, 1945, as a first sergeant. Following his discharge, he worked as an electrician and then joined the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier in 1949. Jim retired in 1976 after he was injured at work.

On October 14, 1950, he married Helen A. Heintzelman at Sacred Heart Church in Leavenworth. She survives of the home.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus, all in Seneca. He was a lifetime member of the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion in Seneca and served as the commander twice. He was also the service officer for the American Legion for more than 40 years. Jim was a member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the VFW, the 40 & 8, and Chapter #20 of the DAV at Marysville. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and previously had raised pheasants. Jim worked on the Seneca Centennial Committee. He enjoyed visiting with people and coffee at Harsh’s.

Survivors besides his wife are three sons, Daniel of St. George, KS, Thomas and his wife Waneta, of Spring, TX, and Steven and his wife Trish, of Casper, WY; a daughter, Mary Sparling and her husband Gary, of Seneca; a brother, Leonard McGinty of Wichita; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Emmett, John, and Clarence McGinty; and five sisters, Catherine Schoenberger, Teresa Winkler, Madelyn Winterscheidt, Rita Thompson, and Erma Cox.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery, with military honors by the American Legion and VFW. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, the new Seneca City Swimming Pool development, or Sts. Peter & Paul Church cemetery, and sent in care of the family.