Obituary of William E. MAC McAninch

William E. ‘Mac’ McAninch, 81, passed on Saturday, January 10, 2015. He was born on March 14, 1933 in Kansas City, KS. He is survived by son Kevin McAninch of Cocoa; stepsons Michael Moya and Robert Moya of Alamogordo, NM; and many nieces and nephews. Mac enlisted in the US Air Force after high school. His assignments spanned from radar mapping of the Caribbean Islands to spending the last six months of his Air Force enlistment on the icecap in Greenland (which we all agree contributed to his dislike of cold weather). After his honorable discharge, Mac went to work for General Dynamics: Convair, working on F-106 aircraft at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM. Various assignments with Convair eventually brought Mac to the Space Coast in 1963 to work on the Mercury Project. As the Mercury program transitioned to Gemini and then Gemini transitioned to Apollo, he worked for Chrysler Aerospace building the first stage of the Saturn 1B rocket. Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz were other programs he supported while working for Chrysler. In 1977, Mac went to work for a ‘start-up’ company, United Space Boosters, Inc. USBI was responsible for the assembly and integration of the space shuttle SRBGÇÖs. Mac spent 18 years at USBI and retired in 1995. Mac’s retirement afforded more time to be spent outdoors ‘pulling weeds’, mowing and tending his garden as well as the numerous plants and flowers at his home. Dad also enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the local tavern ‘where everyone knew his name’. From his early days in Kansas, Mac was a sports fan. When he wasnGÇÖt in the yard, he could be found in his Florida room watching ‘his’ Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs or Royals depending on the season. Mac was a true MAN among men. He will be missed by all who knew him. Arrangements entrusted to Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, Rockledge, Florida (321) 632-1350.Mac’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at F. Burton Smith Park, 7575 West King Street, Cocoa, FL 32926 from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. United States Air Force honors will be accorded.In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.