Dennis Lee McGhee Sr.

Dennis Lee McGhee Sr. was born on December 14, 1948, to Calvin and Gertrude McGhee at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Gunkel Elementary, Pickett Elementary, and Robinson Junior High School, and graduated from Scott High School.

As a youth, he was baptized at St. Mary Baptist Church and grew up in St. Paul Baptist Church. He went on to serve in the United States Navy as a Seaman Apprentice. Dennis completed a four-year apprenticeship and became a journeyman electrician with IBEW Local 8, where he worked for many years. He served as a steward on many jobs, coordinating efforts between contractors, management, the workforce, and the Union. He later became a State of Ohio electrical inspector and electrical contractor, working on jobs throughout the city and earning a reputation for fair pricing and superior workmanship. He also served on several Local 8 committees, including one dedicated to certifying and hiring minority electrical apprentices — work through which he helped many minorities become journeymen, and even contractors, in their own right.

Outside of work, Dennis was an avid tennis player who loved fishing, spending time with family and tending to his vegetable garden.

Dennis joined St. Philip Lutheran Church in the mid-1990s and quickly became active in the men's Bible study and the church's broader ministries. Pastor Paul Baumann appointed him an Elder, and he went on to attend conferences, serve on church council, visit the sick and homebound, and serve as chairman of the congregation. From 2013 to 2021, he served as a board member of Genacross Lutheran Services.

In 2016, Dennis became a member of The Gideons International, a ministry of Christian business and professional men and their wives. From then until his passing, he regularly took part in organized Scripture distributions on the public sidewalks of area high schools, junior high schools, and universities, as well as at the Lucas County Fair and other locations — sharing the hope he found in Christ with others.

Dennis also drove blind participants from the Toledo Blind Outreach Center to their monthly dinner meetings at St. Philip. In recent years, he became a beloved member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Saturday Men's Breakfast group. During Advent 2025, he attended the Elders' meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church, often giving reports on St. Philip and offering his wisdom on happenings at Concordia. Just last year, he served as the bus driver for the "Raise a Child" tutoring program, and he regularly cleaned the church and performed maintenance duties.

Dennis McGhee Sr. lived a life of kindness, integrity, and purpose. His love for God, family, and friends will continue to inspire those who knew him, and his memory will remain forever in their hearts.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Dorothy.

He is survived by his two sons, Dennis Jr. (wife Mia) and Darien McGhee (significant other Keetha Kemp); two brothers, Durrell McGhee and Vincent McGhee; his sister, the late Kimberly Marie Conyers; granddaughters Dariana and Avva McGhee; grandson Camarien McGhee; a host of relatives and friends; special friend Dorcel Dowdell; and all the members of St. Philip Lutheran Church.

At the families request any floral arrangements or Monetary Donations can be sent and made directly to:

St. Phillip Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio3002 Upton Ave, Toledo, OH 43606 (419) 283-1434.