G. Paul McCormick

McCORMICK G. Paul McCormick, 94, of Worthington, passed away on June 15, 2011, with his son, Paul Jr., by his side. Paul was born on December 25, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to William and Lillian McCormick. Paul had a long career in aviation spanning from 1929 to 1999. He described himself in his teens as "an airplane nut and an airport rat". He moved to California and acquired a job with the then fledging North American Aviation and worked on their first production contract as a machinist. He advanced through management and was later sent to Columbus in 1950 to assist in opening a new plant. He eventually became Vice President and held a variety of other management positions until he retired in 1988, at which point the company retained him as a consultant until 1999, when he was 83. He had major responsibilities concerning the construction of the Space Shuttle, the Apollo spacecraft, the B-1 Bomber and the T2B "Buckeye" Navy trainer. Early in his career he worked on the P-51 Mustang and later on the F-86 and F-100. In 2007, he was inducted into the "Mustang Legends" hall of fame by fellow aviators. He also considered himself a photographer, poet, writer and philosopher. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Emma, his two sisters Margaret and Lillian, and brother Billy. His daughter, Debby, also predeceased him, tragically, in December of 2010. He is survived by his son, Paul Jr. (Kay); grandchildren, Michael, Aaron (Kristin), Amanda (Randy); and great-grandchildren, Weston, Quinn and Sierra. He was also loved by hundreds of athletes from Thomas Worthington High School who greatly appreciated the action photographs he took, in his later years, of their athletic activities. He will be sorely missed and , in his words, he "has launched into the wild blue yonder to be in formation with his maker, the Lord God Almighty". Friends may attend a visitation at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085 on Sunday, June 19, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. A service celebrating Paul's life will be held on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Worthington Presbyterian Church, 773 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085. Condolences may be sent to www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com