Barry (Gus) Robert Meckley

Barry (Gus) Robert Meckley, 74, of Millersville, PA, shuffled off this mortal coil on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. He died suddenly of natural causes at home. Born in Lancaster, PA to Robert Earl and Eileen Fay (Stone) Meckley, he grew up in Mount Joy. Early in life, Barry acquired the name “Gus” from his grandmother, which was the name by which many knew him. A 1968 graduate of Donegal High School, he earned a degree in English from Millersville University. His primary working career was with surveying and engineering firms (J.C. Engineering/Surveying, Reney Brothers, D.C. Gohn, J. Haines Shertzer). Other work included plumbing, cabinetmaking, and bookselling. Gus was a Renaissance man: culinary savant, fruit and vegetable gardener, soccer enthusiast, beer trip scout, trivia team ringleader, book club contrarian, discerning cinephile, and voracious reader. He immersed himself in and was knowledgeable about a wide range of music and film. He played guitar and sang. He truly believed in the power of the pen and usually told the right joke at the right time. He unabashedly valued parsimony. A host of close friends remember his intelligence and kindness, diverse interests and talents, measured wit and wry sense of humor, and treasure the depth of his friendship. He maintained connections with friends in New England for over 50 years. Family members cherish all he was as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew, and cousin. He was devoted to his family. Gus is survived by his wife of 52 years, Alice (Kleiner) Meckley, a daughter, Maria Dickson (Andrew), a son, Samuel Meckley, two beloved grandsons, Marcus and Luca Dickson as well as his sister, Debra Meckley (Michael Eshleman), brother, Ronald Meckley (Tina), sister-in-law, Christine Meckley (Jeffrey), aunt, Helen Wells (Baxter), and uncle, Dave Young (Mary Jane), as well as a healthy collection of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jeffrey Meckley, his nephew, Jeffrey Meckley, Jr. as well as a number of aunts and uncles. A service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 47 West Main Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552 on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 beginning at 11:00 AM. Family and friends will be welcomed at the church before the service from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, send Irish whiskey. In lieu of Irish whiskey, consider making a donation to Gus’s preferred charity, Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org – please indicate “Barry R. Meckley” on the donation).

Tributes

Barry (Gus) Robert Meckley

May 28, 1950 - June 25, 2024