715th Railroad Operating Battalion - McPherson
Enoch Virgil McPherson
Redding, CA
1921 - 2015
Enoch Virgil McPherson ("Mac") was born January 8, 1921 in Marietta, OH to Enoch Franklin McPherson and Chloe Ethel McPherson, and passed away July 3, 2015 at Copper Ridge Care Center in Redding, CA.
He was the 9th of 10 children and was raised on the family farm. He graduated from Stockport High School in 1938, where he played basketball and excelled academically. He later worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and married Eileen Elizabeth Sharrock of Norwich, OH, on April 3, 1942. He entered the U.S. Army later that year, serving in Headquarters Company (Signal Service Company) and then was transferred to the English Army to serve in North Africa and Italy. Upon discharge from military duty, Mac and Eileen moved to Marysville, OH where their first child, Virgil Ronald McPherson, was born in 1948. The family moved to Xenia, OH where Mac managed a home and auto supply store called "Moore's". He and Eileen later owned and managed a Moore's store in Norwalk, OH until 1958.
Using mainly his own skills, he built a vacation home on the shores of Lake Erie where the family spent several enjoyable summers. Mac was a Mason and a member of the Lion's Club in Norwalk and remained a member for over 60 years. He worked briefly for the Ford Motor Company in Port Clinton, OH, before moving his family to Claremont CA in 1960. There he opened two retail paint outlets in nearby Pomona and Ontario. Mac and Eileen's family expanded with the arrivals of daughters, Shelli Eileen McPherson and Kelly Rhea McPherson. Mac completed his working career as a superintendent at Kirkhill Rubber Company in Brea, CA. Upon his retirement in 1986, Mac and Eileen moved to be near their son and daughter-in-law in Redding.
In his retirement, Mac drew on his earlier farming experience by growing vegetables in his home garden.
He also enjoyed golf and fishing. Mac was a true patriot and flew the flag proudly at his home. He was a man of great character, and believed strongly in personal ethics and responsibility. He was a kind, loving and gentle husband and father, who taught by example, and was proud of the accomplishments of his three children.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Eileen; and survived by his children and their families, including two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Clarisse Nakahama; and by younger brother, Robert, of New Lexington, OH.
Mac will be laid to rest with Eileen at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, CA
