Chief Warrant Officer 3 George Mikuchonis, United States Army, Ret.

George Mikuchonis was born April 14, 1933 and passed away May 8, 2011 at his residence in Killeen, Texas at the age of 78.

George honorably and proudly served his country in the United States Army for 24 years, during which time he served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. His military decorations and awards include two awards of the Bronze Star Medal.

Interment services, with full military honors, were held on May 16 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders, who formed a line of American flags around the shelter during the service.

A Catholic priest led the gathering in the graveside committal service.

A life long friend of George spoke to the family. She told how she knew George as a young man; that he was a hard worker; how he bought his first new car, a red Chevrolet. She said that George proposed marriage to her; but she said no, because, in her words, she was only eighteen and to young for marriage. She described how they went their separate ways, and of how decades later, after the death of her husband, she reestablished her friendship with George. Finally, she shared how George had found Christ in the 1980's and how much that meant to him.

Full military honors were then rendered by the Army Honor Guard. The detail of six rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler played taps. The flag that draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and passed to a Captain of the United States Army, who presented it to George’s son on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation as thanks for his many years of service to his country.

CWO3 George Mikuchonis was then laid to rest on the slope of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are three sons, his daughter, a sister, five grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.



George’s dear wife, Marion, had predeceased him.

Peaceful Retreat

Down a narrow hidden path
Sought out by Wisdom's eye
A peaceful place of refuge calls
To come rest awhile beside

Listen to the waters
Falling over mountains steep
To gently flow for endless days
Through eternity's retreat

And on the far horizon
Of the never setting sun
The harvest of the whitened wheat
Is very nearly done

As work on earth comes to a close
Peace will be complete
Surrounded by the beauty
Of eternity's retreat

Sherrie Bradley Neal

With thanks to Citizen’s Voice for biographical information.

Thomas McCarthy, United States Marine Corps Veteran

Thomas McCarthy was born August 15, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio and passed away May 9, 2011 in Temple, Texas.

Thomas graduated from Shaw High School in 1943. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was a member of Carlson’s Raiders.

After his service, he attended the University of Ohio and Harvard Business School. In 1951 he married Patricia Ann Fugedy and settled in Cleveland. He worked for Firestone and General Electric, before moving on to Wilsonart International in 1978. In 2001 an annual award was established in his name to honor the highest levels of achievement in Wilsonart's sales department.

On May 5, 1995 he married Mary Gwendoline Kellams. They were members of the Temple Wine Club, and Thomas was a member of the Lions Club and Rotary Club of Salado. He was preceded in death by his first wife.

Funeral services were held on May 16 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Temple, Texas. Present for the services were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. At the cemetery were other of the Riders and fifty American flags blowing in the Texas wind.

Also present was a bag piper, who played the Marine's Hymn as Thomas’ flag draped casket was moved from the funeral coach to the committal shelter.

A Catholic priest led the gathered family and friends in graveside service prayers.

The Marine bugler played taps, and the Marine Honor Guard folded the flag that draped the casket into a tight triangle, and presented it to Mary, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and a grateful nation, as thanks for Thomas’ faithful service to his country.

The piper then played the mournful “Amazing Grace” as he marched away.

Thomas McCarthy, United States Marine, was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the cemetery. The American flag was at half-staff, in his honor, at the top of the hill above.


Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three sons, one daughter, a sister, five grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Temple Daily Telegram for biographical information.

Command Sergeant Major Charles McGrath, United States Army, Ret.

Charles McGrath was born March 2, 1938 in Mansfield, Ohio and passed away May 10, 2011 in Temple, Texas at the age of 73.

Charles served his country in the United States Army for 23 years, retiring on October 31, 1981 with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. During his service he was recognized as Drill Sergeant of the Year for the Army and he had a book written about him by Colonel Bill Hoponski, entitled “One Hell of a Ride.”

His many military decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, the Silver Star Medal, two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, five awards of the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Charles was a life member of the VFW, the American Legion and the DAV. He worked twenty years for Ft. Hood Family Housing.

A Memorial Service was held on May 13, at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas for inurnment with full military honors. At the cemetery were other of the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter.

Final prayers were said by a Chaplain of the United States Army Chaplain Corps. The Army Honor Guard rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler, standing in the dappled shade of the live oak trees, played taps.

The Honor Guard then slowly unfolded the American flag that laid next to the Urn, and carefully refolded it into the traditional triangle. The flag was presented to Charles’ dear wife, Tudy, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation as thanks for his years of service.

The urn containing Charles’ cremains was then sealed into a niche of the columbarium wall, as the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three daughters, a son, thirteen grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a host of other dear family and friends.





With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information.

Lt. Colonel Philip Bard Davis, United States Air Force, Ret.

Philip Davis was born September 27, 1936 in El Paso, Texas and passed away May 8, 2011 in Georgetown, Texas at the age of 74.

Philip served his country in the United States Air Force for 25 years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. His service included the Vietnam War. His many military decorations and awards include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal. He served as Squadron Commander at RAF Lakenheath and flew F-111 fighter aircraft.

Philip married D.J. Haley on December 16, 1989 and they had lived in Georgetown since 1996. At the time of his death, he was a member of the First Baptist Church in Georgetown.

Funeral services were held on May 12 at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders of the Austin Region. The Riders formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

An interment service, with full military honors, was held later that day at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. At the cemetery to welcome the arriving family and friends were fifty American flags and Patriot Guard Riders of the CENTEX Region. The Riders formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter during the service.

The flag draped casket was removed from the funeral coach and carried into the shelter by the Air Force Honor Guard. Looking on were Philip's wife, D.J., and their son, Josh, a Specialist in the United States Army.

At precisely 2:10 PM, a flight of four propeller driven aircraft flew over the cemetery. As the flight passed above, one of the aircraft pulled up and away, leaving the "missing man" formation of three aircraft.

The Honor Guard folded the flag that draped the casket into a tight triangle, and ceremoniously passed it to an Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer. The Air Force detail of three rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Air Force bugler played taps.

The folded American flag was then presented to D. J. on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Air Force and a grateful country as thanks for Philip's many years of faithful service.

Lt. Colonel Philip Davis was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three sons, four daughters, one brother, ten grandchildren and a host of other family and dear friends.



With thanks to Ramsey Funeral Home for biographical information.