Obituary of Jack W. MacMillan

Jack Wallace MacMillan, of State College, was called to the church triumphant on January 27, 2012. He was born April 22, 1926, in Ashtabula, Ohio, the son of Frank R. and Georgeanna Wallace McMillen.

He was reared in Conneautville, PA, graduating from Conneautville High School in 1944. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre aboard a destroyer escort. After the war, he attended Penn State University, graduating in 1950 with a B.A. degree in journalism.

He was employed as a reporter-photographer and later city editor for the Franklin News-Herald in Franklin, PA, from 1950 until 1963, when he was hired as Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Travel Development Bureau in Harrisburg.

He joined the staff of Penn State’s College of Agriculture December 1, 1964, as an associate editorial specialist. Named Assistant to the Dean of the College in 1979, he retained that position until being named Director of College Relations in 1983.

He worked for four successive Deans of the College and received the Distinguished Service Award of the Penn State Advisory Council in 1983. He retired April 1, 1988, returning in late 1990 and again in 1991 on special assignments for the College.

Mr. MacMillan was a long time member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and the American Legion. He was an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in State College. Jack enjoyed traveling to Canada for “mining for uranium,” to Alaska, to their Cook Forest cabins, and to Nags Head, NC, to look for his “serenity seashells.” Whether tending to his enormous backyard garden, listening to his favorite jazz music, St. Louis Blues, Jack always had a minute to talk to anyone. He was known as a prolific reader who edited friends’ books. He was active in the PSU Retirees Club and his WWII ship military reunions. Retirement was a time of being on the go. The family is grateful for his loving care during his residence at the Elmcroft retirement community.

He was united in marriage with the former Jane K. Rawson of Conneaut Lake, PA, on November 27, 1948. She survives along with three daughters, Mrs. Jacqueline K. Babcock (J. Bradley) of Lemont, PA; Mrs. Debbie Menoher (John) of Gainesville, FL, and Jayne Higgins of Carlisle, PA. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Stephen (Patti) Greene of Falls Creek, PA; Angie Menoher of Miami Beach, FL; Amy (Angelo) Sotereanos of White Oak, PA; Tim (Jan) Babcock of Warriors Mark, PA; and Mary and Carolyn Higgins of Carlisle, PA; as well as five great-grandchildren, Ava and Seamus Babcock, Gianna and Lucas Sotereanos, and Alex Greene.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, January 30, 2012 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 208 West Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801 with the Reverend Fr. Richard Wall officiating.

Interment will be 2:00 PM, Monday, January 30, 2012 at Centre County Memorial Park, 1032 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jack’s memory may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

A guestbook may be signed, or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com