Lee A. McKinley, Jr., 76, of 23 Orchard Valley Road, passed away Monday, April 14, 2014 at Bradford Regional Medical Center.
Born January 4, 1938 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Lee A. and Ruth (Moore) McKinley.
On July 2, 1960 in Olean, NY, he married Sandra (Habgood) McKinley, who survives.
He was a 1955 graduate of Bradford High School, where he was on the state championship football team. He attended the University of Buffalo, then transferred to Embrey Riddle Aeronautical Institute, where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
Upon completing his education, Mr. McKinley began his career with Pan American Airways in Miami, FL. In 1963, he and his family moved to Guatemala and he spent most of his career in the commercial airline industry working throughout Central America, South America, The caribbean and Mexico.
In December of 1978, he returned to Bradford and began working for National Aviation Underwriters and then he worked for Avemco Insurance. He then formed Aviation Insurance Resources with other partners and was active in the company until the time of his death.
An avid outdoors man and animal lover, he enjoyed trap and skeet shooting, playing tennis, and was a sports enthusiast. His greatest passion was for aviation and piloting his own plane.
He was a member of the Bradford Club and The Pennhills Club.
In addition to his wife of 53 years, he is survived by two children, Jeffrey H.(Heather) McKinley, of Roswell, GA and Melissa McKinley-(Troy) Smith, of Bradford. Eight grandchildren, Trent McKinley, Trevor McKinley, Samantha McKinley-Schuster, Colton McKinley, Paityn McKinley, Conner McKinley, Madison Lee McKinley and Declan Smith; three step grandchildren, Reagan Thompson, Jillian Thompson and Jason Thompson; two great grandchildren, Keegan Schuster and Delilah Schuster and various nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Lee A. 'Bert' McKinley, III, on June 15, 1986 and two sisters, Gloria McKinley and Mary McKinley-Rosner
At the request of the family, there will be no public visitation, and services will be private. Mausoleum entombment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions, if desired, can be made to The Bradford Hospital Foundation or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.
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On line condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com