Joseph David McMahan Jr.

Joseph David McMahan Jr, 91, Windermere, Florida, passed away on January 10, 2021. Joe was born in Chicago, Illinois 10/24/31 to his late parents, Joseph David McMahan Sr. and Florence Zimmer McMahan. He loved to tell stories about growing up in Chicago, having a horse named Gertrude, and his first job working in a pickle factory. He was an athlete and ran track, played baseball and football, and broke his nose several times while participating in boxing. After high school, Joe joined the U.S. Air force, where he trained pilots in radar technology and simulation. He met his future wife, Carmen, at a USO dance, fell head over heels, and proposed to her by mailing her an engagement ring while stationed in North Africa. After the Airforce, he attended college, became an electrical engineer, and worked at General Electric while starting a family. Job opportunities brought him to Orlando, Florida, and then to El Paso, Texas, for several years while he worked at White Sands Missile Range. He returned to Orlando and continued to work for Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) for over three decades, working on multiple programs, including the Pershing, Sprint, and Patriot missiles. During his stint in the US Airforce, Joe developed a love for flying and became a hobbyist pilot, enjoying taking his wife and kids on weekend flights. He also had a passion for the outdoors and had many adventures and family vacations camping in the wilderness and hunting. Joe was an avid coin and stamp collector and frequently gifted coins to his grandchildren. He was a generous soul and supported multiple charities. His interest in boating led him to purchase property on the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere, Florida. He built his home on Lake Down in 1979 and spent many years enjoying the lake lifestyle and teaching his kids, grandkids, friends, and neighbors how to waterski. On most days, you would find him riding his John Deere lawnmower or snipping twigs. Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Marianne Skoumal, and his wife, Carmen LaViolette McMahan. Carmen and Joe were happily married for fifty-eight years and raised four children. They loved spending time with their family and shared their later years cruising the Caribbean and visiting Alaska. Joe earned his ticket to heaven as a devoted caretaker of his wife, who struggled with Parkinson’s late in life. His engineer’s attention to detail provided her with fantastic care. The two things that brought the most joy to Joe in his later life were babies and sweets- especially ice cream. Joe is survived by his four children, Gayle Zambito (Sam), Michael McMahan (Sally), Jayne Willis (John), and Patricia Merrick (Gary). Seventeen grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren also survive him.

The family will be forever grateful to his devoted caregivers, Mabel and Lourdes, who provided him with meticulous and loving care for many years. Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida. A celebration of life open house will be held in the home of Michael and Sally McMahan on 1/21/23 from 1- 5 pm at 2906 Midsummer Drive, Windermere, FL 34786. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Edgewood Children’s Ranch: edgewoodranch.com. Scroll for available link. Condolences can be offered for the McMahan family in the online guest book below.