Ricky McGinnis laid to rest

HAMILTON — A career soldier killed Oct. 26 while on patrol in Iraq will be remembered by family and friends tonight.

A memorial service for Army 1st Sgt. Ricky L. McGinnis, 42, of Fort Hood, Texas, and a Hamilton native, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hamilton Christian Center, 1940 Millville Ave.

His funeral was held Friday in Fort Hood, Texas, where he was stationed.

"He was an all-around good guy," said his niece, Nicole LeFevre. "He'd been in the Army since the age of 18. He liked fighting for freedom."

McGinnis died in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad, from injuries he suffered when a roadside bomb detonated while on patrol in Muqdadiyah, Army officials said. The Hamilton High School graduate was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

Relatives said, "his girls meant everything to him," and he loved coaching them in softball, basketball and soccer.

McGinnis is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kerstin McGinnis; his daughters Julia, Laura, Melissa and Nina McGinnis, all of Fort Hood, Texas; his sisters, Rhonda Isaacs of Hamilton and Julie Wilson of Williamstown, Ky.; his brother, Carl Wilkerson of Hamilton; his nieces and nephews, Nicole LeFevre of Hamilton, and Pvt. 2nd Class Joey Isaacs of Fairfield Twp., who served in the same unit as McGinnis in Iraq; Amber, Liz and Holly Wilson, all of Williamstown, Ky.; Kyle and Tabatha Wilkerson, both of Hamilton; and Dustin McGaffeney, who is serving in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Aberdeen, Md.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Cathy McGinnis; his grandparents, William and Julia Mae McGinnis.

McGinnis had spent just a few weeks in Iraq at the time of his death. His military career spanned 23 years. He planned to retired in 2008.

"Serving his country, that was his life," Isaacs said.

From the Journal News

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