Yancey McGann of Williamsburg died peacefully on Sunday November 25th at Riverside Doctors Hospital at the age of 94 after a brief illness. A mechanical engineer by training, Yancey became the first and only Executive Director at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, and received numerous U.S. Presidential service awards, Department of Defense commendations and U.S. patents for his work in underwater sound signals and explosives. An Army veteran who served in both the WWII and Korean conflicts, Yancey was born in Avon, Nelson County, Virginia in 1924. He graduated from Virginia Tech after completing an apprenticeship at the Newport News Shipyard, and worked as a design engineer for the N&W Railroad for ten years before moving to Williamsburg in 1962. Yancey was a member of Williamsburg Baptist Church for almost 60 years, and active in numerous civic organizations including Williamsburg Rotary Club and Middle Plantation Club.
“I shake men’s hands, but I hug women!” Yancey was known for his ever present smile, and soft, friendly affability. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Dorothy, and is survived by his sons Brad (Barbara Moyce) and Brian (fiancé Tracey), grandchildren John (Crystal), Samantha (Patrick), Matthew (Michelle), and great grandson Jack. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at the Williamsburg Baptist Church on Saturday December 1st at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Hospice House of Williamsburg (http://williamsburghospice.org/).
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Lester Leonard posted on 12/7/18
Brad and Brian, You have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your father. I worked with your father at the Naval Weapons Station from 1979 until we moved to Indian Head in 2011. I considered him my mentor and he was such great leader. He was the reason I came back to work at Yorktown after I had left for graduate school. He called me after I had graduated and asked if I would like to return and I said yes, in great part because I respected him and loved working with him. I learned so much from Yancey and am sad that I did not get to see him again after my job moved to Indian Head MD. He was a great man. God's peace be with you.