Peter O'Neill, Jr

Peter Edward O'Neill, Jr., 70, of Lanham, MD, passsed away December 7, 2009, at home surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was born August 13, 1939, in Lucinda, PA to Peter Edward O 'Neill and Margaret Mary Griebel O'Neill. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in Lucinda in 1957 and from Gannon University in Erie, PA in 1962. He married Carol Elizabeth Pope on July 10, 1965. He served in the U. S. Army at Fort Sill, OK, after which he was employed as an engineer by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD until his retirement in 1994. He enjoyed woodworking, welding, and tinkering in his second home - his garage. He had a wonderful sense of humor and many friends. His first love was his family, both his immediate and extended one. He was blessed with an engineer's intuitiveness and the gift of faith. At some point in his life he became known as "The Old Goat". He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; sons, Peter O'Neill, III of Gaithersburg, MD, Patrick (Michele) O'Neill of Laurel, MD, and Matthew (Sarah) O'Neill of Knoxville, TN; daughters, Maggie (Chris) Wirtanen of Reno, NV and Jennifer (John) Staubly of Orlando, FL; sisters, Margaret Wolbert, Jane (Dennis) Greenawalt and Ruth (Edward) George and brother, Michael O'Neill, all of Lucinda, PA; sister, Carolyn (Robert) Martino of Georgetown, MA and sister, Lois (Ted) Burdon of Warwick, RI; brother-in-law, Fred Vickey of Erie; 30 nieces and nephews, and granddaughters, Samantha and Paige Wirtanen and Emma Staubly. His parents, sister, Nancy Vickey, and brother-in-law, Mark Wolbert, preceded him in death. Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 4:30 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, December 10 at GASCH'S FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, December 11 at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 9745 Annapolis Road, Lanham, Maryland. Interment in St. Joseph's Church Cemetery in Lucinda, PA. In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial contribution in his name to the Laurel Pregnancy Center, 415 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707.