Born on March 31, 1902, in Washington, D.C., Meade Close Fairall, was the son of William Meade and Myra Agnes Close Fairall. The family moved to Virginia where Meade spent most of his boyhood years; and, upon his father’s death, returned to Washington in 1915.
Directly after World War I was declared in April 1917, at age fifteen, Meade enlisted in the United States Navy for two years serving aboard the U.S.S. Texas. He liked to remember the story that he had to borrow his first pair of long pants from an older friend so he would be taken seriously when he went into the recruiting office to enlist.
On Meade’s return from Europe in 1919, he joined the United States Army for one year and was stationed at Fort Hollabird in Baltimore, Maryland. However, the Army did not offer the appeal the Navy had; and after his year was up, Meade re-enlisted for a 4-year hitch with the Navy, serving in China aboard the U.S.S. Stewart with the Asiatic Fleet.
Upon his discharge from the service in 1925, at age twenty-three, Meade studied to be an electrician at the Springgarden Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently employed with the Westinghouse Corporation in Philadelphia, returning to Washington in 1928, where he joined the District of Columbia Fire Department.
On December 5, 1931, Meade and Catherine Wall Gourlay married; they had four children: Meade Close Fairall, Jr., born September 26, 1932; Stewart William Fairall, born August 15, 1938; James Richard Fairall, born September 15, 1940; and Margaret Cathleen Fairall, born October 30, 1944. Meade and Catherine were married 51 years.
Meade retired from the Fire Department as a Battalion Fire Chief in 1965. During his career, he received many honors and awards including the Silver Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three young men in danger of drowning in the Potomac River.
Meade’s retirement years were spent vigorously and constructively working on projects, helping others, taking walks, and drawing and sketching. Meade is remembered by his family as a respected and loving husband and father; he is described as the Rock of Gibraltar: solid, strong, reflecting mighty strength, and yet quietly dignified. Meade C. Fairall, 81, died at his home in Kensington, Maryland on July 9, 1983. Surviving family members are Meade’s immediate family, 7 grandchildren: Holly Meade Fairall; Jennifer Cathleen Peters; Brian James Peters; Heidi Cathleen Fairall; John David Fairall; Wendy Diane Fairall; and Kimberly Ann Fairall; and a brother Raymond Lewis Fairall.
Biography by Margaret Cathleen Fairall Peters, the only daughter of Meade Fairall. She had to grow up with three older brothers who were infamous for teasing her.
Directly after World War I was declared in April 1917, at age fifteen, Meade enlisted in the United States Navy for two years serving aboard the U.S.S. Texas. He liked to remember the story that he had to borrow his first pair of long pants from an older friend so he would be taken seriously when he went into the recruiting office to enlist.
On Meade’s return from Europe in 1919, he joined the United States Army for one year and was stationed at Fort Hollabird in Baltimore, Maryland. However, the Army did not offer the appeal the Navy had; and after his year was up, Meade re-enlisted for a 4-year hitch with the Navy, serving in China aboard the U.S.S. Stewart with the Asiatic Fleet.
Upon his discharge from the service in 1925, at age twenty-three, Meade studied to be an electrician at the Springgarden Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently employed with the Westinghouse Corporation in Philadelphia, returning to Washington in 1928, where he joined the District of Columbia Fire Department.
On December 5, 1931, Meade and Catherine Wall Gourlay married; they had four children: Meade Close Fairall, Jr., born September 26, 1932; Stewart William Fairall, born August 15, 1938; James Richard Fairall, born September 15, 1940; and Margaret Cathleen Fairall, born October 30, 1944. Meade and Catherine were married 51 years.
Meade retired from the Fire Department as a Battalion Fire Chief in 1965. During his career, he received many honors and awards including the Silver Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three young men in danger of drowning in the Potomac River.
Meade’s retirement years were spent vigorously and constructively working on projects, helping others, taking walks, and drawing and sketching. Meade is remembered by his family as a respected and loving husband and father; he is described as the Rock of Gibraltar: solid, strong, reflecting mighty strength, and yet quietly dignified. Meade C. Fairall, 81, died at his home in Kensington, Maryland on July 9, 1983. Surviving family members are Meade’s immediate family, 7 grandchildren: Holly Meade Fairall; Jennifer Cathleen Peters; Brian James Peters; Heidi Cathleen Fairall; John David Fairall; Wendy Diane Fairall; and Kimberly Ann Fairall; and a brother Raymond Lewis Fairall.
Biography by Margaret Cathleen Fairall Peters, the only daughter of Meade Fairall. She had to grow up with three older brothers who were infamous for teasing her.
Born on March 31, 1902, in Washington, D.C., Meade Close Fairall, was the son of William Meade and Myra Agnes Close Fairall. The family moved to Virginia where Meade spent most of his boyhood years; and, upon his father’s death, returned to Washington in 1915.
Directly after World War I was declared in April 1917, at age fifteen, Meade enlisted in the United States Navy for two years serving aboard the U.S.S. Texas. He liked to remember the story that he had to borrow his first pair of long pants from an older friend so he would be taken seriously when he went into the recruiting office to enlist.
On Meade’s return from Europe in 1919, he joined the United States Army for one year and was stationed at Fort Hollabird in Baltimore, Maryland. However, the Army did not offer the appeal the Navy had; and after his year was up, Meade re-enlisted for a 4-year hitch with the Navy, serving in China aboard the U.S.S. Stewart with the Asiatic Fleet.
Upon his discharge from the service in 1925, at age twenty-three, Meade studied to be an electrician at the Springgarden Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently employed with the Westinghouse Corporation in Philadelphia, returning to Washington in 1928, where he joined the District of Columbia Fire Department.
On December 5, 1931, Meade and Catherine Wall Gourlay married; they had four children: Meade Close Fairall, Jr., born September 26, 1932; Stewart William Fairall, born August 15, 1938; James Richard Fairall, born September 15, 1940; and Margaret Cathleen Fairall, born October 30, 1944. Meade and Catherine were married 51 years.
Meade retired from the Fire Department as a Battalion Fire Chief in 1965. During his career, he received many honors and awards including the Silver Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three young men in danger of drowning in the Potomac River.
Meade’s retirement years were spent vigorously and constructively working on projects, helping others, taking walks, and drawing and sketching. Meade is remembered by his family as a respected and loving husband and father; he is described as the Rock of Gibraltar: solid, strong, reflecting mighty strength, and yet quietly dignified. Meade C. Fairall, 81, died at his home in Kensington, Maryland on July 9, 1983. Surviving family members are Meade’s immediate family, 7 grandchildren: Holly Meade Fairall; Jennifer Cathleen Peters; Brian James Peters; Heidi Cathleen Fairall; John David Fairall; Wendy Diane Fairall; and Kimberly Ann Fairall; and a brother Raymond Lewis Fairall.
Biography by Margaret Cathleen Fairall Peters, the only daughter of Meade Fairall. She had to grow up with three older brothers who were infamous for teasing her.
Directly after World War I was declared in April 1917, at age fifteen, Meade enlisted in the United States Navy for two years serving aboard the U.S.S. Texas. He liked to remember the story that he had to borrow his first pair of long pants from an older friend so he would be taken seriously when he went into the recruiting office to enlist.
On Meade’s return from Europe in 1919, he joined the United States Army for one year and was stationed at Fort Hollabird in Baltimore, Maryland. However, the Army did not offer the appeal the Navy had; and after his year was up, Meade re-enlisted for a 4-year hitch with the Navy, serving in China aboard the U.S.S. Stewart with the Asiatic Fleet.
Upon his discharge from the service in 1925, at age twenty-three, Meade studied to be an electrician at the Springgarden Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently employed with the Westinghouse Corporation in Philadelphia, returning to Washington in 1928, where he joined the District of Columbia Fire Department.
On December 5, 1931, Meade and Catherine Wall Gourlay married; they had four children: Meade Close Fairall, Jr., born September 26, 1932; Stewart William Fairall, born August 15, 1938; James Richard Fairall, born September 15, 1940; and Margaret Cathleen Fairall, born October 30, 1944. Meade and Catherine were married 51 years.
Meade retired from the Fire Department as a Battalion Fire Chief in 1965. During his career, he received many honors and awards including the Silver Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three young men in danger of drowning in the Potomac River.
Meade’s retirement years were spent vigorously and constructively working on projects, helping others, taking walks, and drawing and sketching. Meade is remembered by his family as a respected and loving husband and father; he is described as the Rock of Gibraltar: solid, strong, reflecting mighty strength, and yet quietly dignified. Meade C. Fairall, 81, died at his home in Kensington, Maryland on July 9, 1983. Surviving family members are Meade’s immediate family, 7 grandchildren: Holly Meade Fairall; Jennifer Cathleen Peters; Brian James Peters; Heidi Cathleen Fairall; John David Fairall; Wendy Diane Fairall; and Kimberly Ann Fairall; and a brother Raymond Lewis Fairall.
Biography by Margaret Cathleen Fairall Peters, the only daughter of Meade Fairall. She had to grow up with three older brothers who were infamous for teasing her.
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