Joseph W. McArdle

SOUTH STRAFFORD—Joseph Withrow McArdle, 65, died November 10, 2006 at his home in South Strafford, following an extended illness.

He was born on April 27, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of th late Allan and Joann (Withrow) McArdle.

He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. in 1959 and Yale University in 1963. After attending the Presidio Army Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., he served in the US Army counterintelligence in Panama. While at St. Paul’s school, he played the organ under the instruction of Channing LeFebvre, an internationally re-cognized organist and composer.

He and Sarah Toy (Tinka) were married in 1969 in Charlotte, N.C. Following their wedding, they lived in Perrysburg, Ohio. He worked for the Toledo Pressed Steel Company (TPS), a three-generation, family manufacturing company supplying metal stampings for the automotive industry. In 1987, the McArdles moved to Greenville, S.C., where he established a new division of TPS, Fountain Industries of Fountain Inn, S.C. Following his retirement, they moved to Little Switzerland, N.C., where he studied woodworking at Penland School of Crafts.

He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Woodstock, where he enjoyed playing the organ as a substitute organist. He also played at many churches over the years, including St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, N.H.; St. Luke’s in Woodsville, St. Barnibus in Norwich, Christ Church in Greenville, S.C., and Trinity Episcopal Church in Spruce Pine, N.C. He was an accomplished woodworker, a lifelong Rotarian, and recently had joined the Strafford Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah Toy McArdle of South Strafford; a son, Dr. Christopher and his wife, Angie McArdle, of Falmouth, Mass.; a daughter, Dr. Eliza McArdle of Easthampton, Mass.; a sister, Christina McGuire of Asheville, N.C.; and a brother-in-law, Dr. John Everett Lee of Atlanta, Ga.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Woodstock. The Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. James Episcopal Church in Woodstock, Habitat for Humanity, the American Prairie Foundation in Bozeman, Montana; or a charity of the donor’s choice.

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