William Carnahan

Obituary of William E. Carnahan

William Carnahan, a Washington DC native and long-time resident of Silver Spring, MD, died on January 15, 2017. Bill was born at Sibley Memorial Hospital on December 28, 1924, in the District of Columbia. He graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1944. Bill served in World War II, Company L, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. After the war, he earned an Associate degree in Applied Science, Photography, from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado, where he was elected Outstanding Male Journalism Graduate by Sigma Delta Chi (Society of Professional Journalists). He worked for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service as an agricultural information specialist, and then worked in various divisions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1957 – 1984. Bill was an active member of Agricultural Communicators in Education (ACE). Bill was also a very involved member of Christ Congregational Church, serving on many boards and committees over the span of more than 5 decades. He was a member of the Kensington Masonic Lodge No. 198, and served as a Delegate for US-USSR Bridges for Peace, traveling to the Soviet Union in 1988. A gifted professional photographer, Bill enjoyed photographing landscapes, family portraits and weddings. He had many interests and dabbled in cake decorating, knitting, carpentry, masonry, car maintenance, genealogy, silk screening, gardening, playing bridge, traveling, and many other hobbies. Bill truly enjoyed every facet of life, and was known for his endearing sense of humor. Bill's family was important to him. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Weber Carnahan. His sister, Jean Carnahan West and brother, Robert Goskirk Carnahan, predeceased him. He is survived by daughters, Margaret C. McNiff and Martha J. Carnahan; grandchildren, Katie Macri, Brad McNiff and Michael McNiff; great grandsons, Luke and John Paul Macri; and cherished nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on February 11, at 11 am, at Christ Congregational Church, 9525 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Congregational Church (please write "Memorial Fund" in the memo).
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