<bt>Blanche Marie McGarrh, 88, died on Nov. 16, at the National Lutheran Home in Rockville, Md. McGarrh suffered a stroke in 1991, which left her paralyzed on the left side. However, Blanche died due to complications from pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
A native of Omaha, Neb., McGarrh joined the Woman's Army Corps in 1943 and served as a recruiter. She left the Army as a second lieutenant in August 1944. She eventually relocated to Northern Virginia and continued in U.S. government service for more than 20 years with Civil Aeronautics, the Panama Canal Co., and retired from the Department of Army, Office of the Secretary of the Army.
McGarrh, a resident of Vienna for more than 30 years, was active with Wesley Methodist Church, local and national politics, the Vienna Chorale Society and the Juvenile Court in Fairfax. She loved the violin and taught and played with the Arlington Symphony for many years.
McGarrh is survived by her sisters, Bette Swanson of Bellevue, Neb., and Margaret Lundahl of Sioux City, Iowa, and their families, and her sister-in-law, Frances Connell of Preston, Md. She is also survived by her son, Douglas Donohoe, of Westport, Conn.; daughters Elizabeth Weber of Gaithersburg, Md., and Sharon Mills, of Chesapeake Beach, Md.; sons-in-law Charles Mills and Robert Weber; daughter-in-law Carol Donohoe; and grandchildren Douglas Donohoe, Kelsey Donohoe, Alex Weber, Charles Mills II and Melanie Mills.
McGarrh was married three times and was predeceased by Wayman (Mac) McGarrh, who passed away in 1983; Gilbert Donohoe, a decorated silver-star veteran of WW II, 1956; and Harry Douglas Thompson of Nashville, Tenn.
The Memorial Service for McGarrh took place on Monday, Nov. 22, at the National Lutheran Home in Rockville.
McGarrh will be buried on Dec. 3, at 1 p.m., with Wayman McGarrh at Arlington Cemetery, with the standard military honors given to an officer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Lutheran Home or the National Stroke Association, 9707 East Easter Lane, Englewood, CO 80112.