Gary A. Whitehead

Gary A. Whitehead, 72, of Guys Mills died peacefully at home Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

He was born in Meadville February 1, 1942 a son of Edson S. and Virginia Armour Whitehead.

He was the owner and operator of Whitehead Tool and Design in Guys Mills for 20 years retiring in 2005.  Previously he worked at Talon Inc. and various other local tool and die companies.

He was a 1960 graduate of Meadville High School and he attended Allegheny College and Alliance College.  He also graduated from Talon’s Tool and Die Apprenticeship Program.  He was a member and Past Master of Masonic Lodge #408, member of Erie Consistory, Zem Zem Shrine Temple, Erie and the Crawford County Shrine Club.  In 1982 Gary took a year and sailed his sailboat from Erie to Chicago, down the Illinois Waterway to the Mississippi River, into the Gulf of Mexico and around the Caribbean.  A trip he truly enjoyed.

He is survived by a son, Mark A. Whitehead of Pittsburgh; two brothers, Dale W. Whitehead and his wife Debbie of Conneaut Lake and John (Jack) R. Whitehead and his wife Joann of Springfield, OH; a cousin with whom he was very close, Col. Richard R. Waite, Ret. and his wife Audrey of Sedona, AZ and a niece, Ashley Whitehead of Pittsburgh.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville with a Masonic Service at 8 p.m.

Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery, Saturday at 11 a.m.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Meadville Area Masonic Center (Building Fund), 21635 Star Route #27, Meadville, PA 16335.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net