Meredith G. McCandless, 87, passed away peacefully at his home in Lantana, Fla., on June 23 and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He had been married to his late wife, Lynda Bowman McCandless, of Sewickley, for 58 years.

He was born in Butler and relocated to Florida in 1958, where he lived until his death.

Meredith was a proud World War II veteran who served with the Army Air Corps as a staff sergeant in the 2nd Photo Procurement Detachment in the China Offensive and in India. He had been decorated with two Bronze Stars for meritorious service, among other decorations and citations. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.

He made his early living as a photographer and owned a photography studio in Sewickley. He relocated to Florida, where he continued his photography trade until his retirement.

He is survived by a daughter, Lyn McWilliams, of Elgin, Ariz.; a son, Meredith G. McCandless Jr. and his wife, Desarae, "Desi" of Palm Coast, Fla.; his youngest son, Hugh L. McCandless and his wife, Sheri, of Loxahatchee, Fla.; a grandson, David Castelli Jr. of Sorento, Fla.; and two granddaughters, Heather Langworthy of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Melissa McCandless of Palm Coast, Fla. Also surviving are two sisters, Geneva Bulford of Andover, N.J., and Jean Perry of Frederick, Md.; two brothers, Clarence "Skip" McCandless of Collegedale, Tenn., and James Lamont McCandless of Industry, Beaver County; and a nephew, Kenneth McCandless of Ellwood City.

McCANDLESS - Meredith McCandless, who died Thursday, June 23, 2005, will be buried in the new National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Washington County, Pa.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.Arrangements were handled by QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME, West Palm Beach, Fla.Friends and relatives are encouraged to express condolences in the online guest book at www.Quattlebaum.org.