Carroll "Mac" Edward Mahaney

Mac was born on September 3, 1926 in Cumberland, Maryland to the late Mary Schriver Mahaney and the late Howard Webster Mahaney.

He was the husband of the late Martha Callaway Mahaney for 55 years preceding her death in 2010.

Mac is survived by his two children, Janis C. M. (Perry) Cole of Birmingham, Alabama and James E. (Lisa) Mahaney of Pembroke, Virginia. He is also survived by five wonderful grandsons: Brandon C. Cole, Patrick W. Mahaney, Avery J. Mahaney, William E. Mahaney, and Scott D. Mahaney.

He enjoyed a happy boyhood and excelled in sports, especially baseball. He was a lifelong athlete and competitor in many sports, including golf and tennis. He also enjoyed duplicate bridge, becoming a life master during his adult years.

On March 3, 1944, at 17 years of age, Mac joined the Air Force Cadet Pilot Program and progressed through training, but with the Battle of the Bulge, pilots were in surplus and offered transfer to other divisions. Mac volunteered to join a replacement air crew for the C-46&47’s, which dropped paratroopers, supplies, and medicines to ground forces. He was stationed in Munich, Germany and served over 12 months in the combat zone, for which he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action. Mac received an honorable discharge in late 1946. He attended Virginia Tech, completing his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1951. He began field engineering work at Babcock and Wilcox, which he enjoyed very much, and that situated him in Atlanta, Georgia, where he met and married Martha a few years later. Mac was employed in nuclear engineering and project management by Babcock and Wilcox in Lynchburg for most of his working life, then served as a sought-after consultant after retirement.

Mac was a devoted and excellent son, husband, father and grandfather. He was a member of Peakland United Methodist Church in Lynchburg, but also attended Blacksburg United Methodist Church after moving to Warm Hearth Village to be closer to his son, Jim, and his family. As a life-long and dedicated Hokie, Mac enjoyed his final years at Warm Hearth Village, and he enjoyed easy access to his beloved Virginia Tech for sporting events and other celebrations. Mac loved his wife, Martha and cared for her during her final years of life. He missed her greatly after her passing, and would always sign his notes as “Mac and Mar.” She was always with him, always part of what he did, and now he is with her again in heaven, his greatest joy.

On behalf of Mac and Martha, the family wishes to express deep and heartfelt gratitude to everyone at Warm Hearth Village who loved and cared for him as family. He was consistently treated with respect and affection by everyone there, employees and residents alike. In addition, the family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Gregory Beato and the other physicians, nurses, and therapists who helped Mac live a healthy and good life. Mac knew that he was enjoyed and appreciated by his caregivers, and that often made his final years fun.

Mac will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife at Peakland United Methodist Church. To protect the health and safety of all during the current pandemic, any public memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Peakland United Methodist Church in Lynchburg and/or The Warm Hearth Foundation in Blacksburg.