Charles McIntire

Charles Henry McIntire

August 16, 1926 - October 13, 2023

Charles Henry McIntire left this world peacefully on October 13, 2023 in his home filled with family the night before Autumn Glory in Oakland, Maryland. Charlie was 97 years old and enjoyed each day on the front porch of his grandfather Dr. Henry Wheeler McComas's late 1850s home with so many sharing "he will be missed and lived an amazing life."

Charlie was born August 16, 1926 in Oakland, Maryland to Martha McComas and Paul W. McIntire, the grandson of G.W. McIntire, founder of McIntire Hardware and Furniture in 1895 in Thomas, W.VA. Named for both grandfathers, Charlie took pride in his family's contributions including his Great Grandfather Dr. Josiah Lee McComas, a renowned surgeon treating Jefferson Davis in 1859 before the Civil War and his grandfather Dr. Henry Wheeler McComas founding the hospital.

Charlie was strong, family oriented, a proud veteran of WWII and a businessman to the core. He lived life to the fullest and loved a challenge believing a strong work ethic was key to a secure, productive and happy life. Nicknamed "Boomer", Charlie taught his family to ski in his 30s at Wisp. He touted, "If you can ski the Face, you can ski anything!" In his late 70s, Charlie proudly negotiated a lifetime ski pass at Wisp as payment for a small real estate transaction.

At 17, Charlie joined the Army to serve as a medic in Europe. He returned to attend college at Duke and transferred to Maryland when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her late 30s. Following graduation from the University of Maryland and serving as President of Theta Chi fraternity, Charlie married Barbara Ann Stephenson from Loch Lynn and moved into the McComas House to work at the family hardware store.

Charlie was a gifted retailer and businessman and began his hardware career following his grandfather's footsteps at the Oakland Hardware and Furniture in 1949. The family moved to Montgomery County, Maryland, where he expanded McIntire Hardware into 21 neighborhood stores in the Washington D.C. area selling more Christmas trees and patio furniture per year then any other chain and providing first jobs for decades. The stories are legendary. With the anticipation of a Christmas snow storm, we piled in rented trucks picking up Flexible Flyers to deliver to stores for Christmas Eve. In his 50s, Charlie and Barbara moved to the inner harbor of Baltimore to return Baltimore's renowned 152 year old Stebbins Anderson to profitability. Starting a new life, Charlie learned to scull and raised funds for the hospital with his rowing partner in a 40 mile row-a-thon to Annapolis.

Charles' love of Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake, which was created when he was one year old, provided a year round second home. He built homes and created the Pizza Haus in McHenry, to provide summer jobs for his children, instilling in them and other young workers the importance of hard work and leadership. Charlie could be heard buzzing the Pizza Haus as he commuted weekly from DC piloting his Cessna 172 loaded with pizza supplies. In the mid 80s, he opened Grand Central Station on the railroad in Oakland. The original building had been a lumber mill in his wife's family in the 40s. Grand Central expanded to three locations and Charles was always proud of teaching the retail business especially to many talented women.

Charlie and his dear friend Bernard Fensterwald Jr. built a steamboat on Deep Creek Lake which is now in the Oakland Transportation Museum. His passion for family and travel took us all over the world. Camping with his young family cross country for entire summers and later generously taking the family skiing in Austria, golfing to Scotland, and European river cruises. And always with a healthy competitive nature scoring a birdie at Royal Dornoch on his 90th birthday.

As an avid skier, Charlie officiated races for the United States Ski Association on weekends traveling with Ann, and World Cup Downhill races with the distinction of disqualifying Franz Klammer and serving as a Technical Delegate for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

Charlie's grandfather, Dr. Henry Lee McComas, was one of the first doctors in Garrett County with his office on Second St. Charles' love for the home inspired him to purchase and restore it back to its' glory days. He and Barbara chose to return and spend the rest of their lives in their beloved Oakland. Charlie is survived by a family that was devoted to him including his brother Robert A. McIntire, three children; Martha McIntire Park (Michael), Charles Henry McIntire Jr. (Pierrette), Ann McComas McIntire, and four grandchildren: Alexandra Ann Dunbar, Charles H. McIntire III, Charles McIntire Clifford, Grace Randol Clifford, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. His younger brother, Paul W. McIntire Jr. predeceased him as did his beloved wife of 59 years, Barbara Stephenson McIntire and his loyal Cavalier King Charles Mackie.

Family and friends will celebrate his life on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 3:00pm at his revered McComas house at 16 N. Second Street following the Autumn Glory parade. Friends and family are all welcome. His last toast "It's all about family" provides an enduring reminder to us all.