Lighting industry veteran (Kenneth) Peter McGarr passed away on October 21 at age 84 with his family by his side.
Peter was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, on June 11, 1937 to James Edward and Margaret McGarr. In 1955, he graduated from Tawanda High School in Pennsylvania. During his first semester at Notre Dame, his parents were killed in a plane crash, which greatly affected him throughout his life. He decided to join the Navy and, during his service, took a chance on a blind date. As luck would have it, that date was none other than Delores Franco, the woman of his dreams. While they dated over the next few years, Peter resumed his education at Boston College and Merrimack College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
In 1958, Peter and Del married and started a family. Ten years later, the McGarr family moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Peter started his own business and became a successful lighting manufacturers’ rep. He was one of the industry’s leading sales reps because he knew how to relate to people. He was known to disarm people with his charm while simultaneously being provocative; a rare quality that was honed to perfection. Peter also had a passion for golf and playing cards with the boys at in the clubhouse.
Peter is survived by his wife, Delores, daughters Elisabeth Maria McGarr and Patricia Margaret McGarr, and siblings Steve McGarr and Jane Perkins.
Visitation will be held at Bill Head Funeral Home & Cemetery, 6101 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker, GA 30084 on November 2 from 4pm to 7pm. Services will be at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 5373 Wydella Rd., Lilburn, GA 30047 on November 3 at 10:30am. Mass will begin at 11am, followed by burial at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens, 3594 Stone Mountain Hwy., Snellville, GA 30039.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org or St. Vincent De Paul at www.svdgeorgia.org
My thoughts and prayers have been with y’all during this difficult time. He was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor.
Barbara Money