Clyde Wayne McClelland of 316 Clinton St., Greenville, passed away at 12:11 a.m. Sunday (2-7-10) in his residence surrounded by his family. He was 89.
Mr. McClelland was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Oil City to Edgar H. and Elvenia Wheeling McClelland.
He was a 1938 alumnus of Franklin High School and a 1963 graduate of Youngstown State University, with a business degree.
Since 1946, he had been the owner and operator of Oakes & McClelland, Greenville.
He was a faithful member of Hillside Presbyterian Church in Greenville.
Wayne was a member and past president of the Mercer County Builders Association and a member of the former Greenville Businessman’s Association.
As a member and past president of the Greenville Rotary, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award multiple times and also proudly hosted 25 exchange students through the Rotary International Student Exchange Program.
He served on the board of directors of the former McDowell National Bank and Northern Mercer County United Way.
He was a member of American Legion Post 140, Greenville; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3374, Hempfield Township; and was a life member of the 351st Bomb Group.
Wayne enjoyed his farm and the many horses he owned through the years; spending time with his grandchildren; camping in Cooks Forest; jogging and snow skiing.
Wayne, along with his wife, Liz, truly enjoyed traveling to many different locations throughout the world.
He served as a bomber pilot in the U.S. Air Corps from 1942-46 and from 1944-45, was a prisoner of war until he was liberated in Germany by Gen. George Patton. From 1950-52, he was part of the Air Transport Command during the Korean conflict, and from 1952-80, was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He served as a Full Bird Colonel and was one of the first commanders of the 910th Airlift Reserve in Vienna, Ohio.
His first wife, the former Norma Hutton, whom he married on Nov. 24, 1947, passed away on May 9, 1999. He then married Elizabeth Suich on Sept. 9, 2000, who survives in Greenville.
Also surviving are: four daughters, Marjorie Boyd and her husband Ronald, Fredonia; Nancy Little and her husband Gerald, Fredonia; Diane Dawson and her husband Benjamin, Mercer; and Jill Axtell and her husband George, Greenville; a son, David McClelland and his wife Cinthia, Jamestown; a stepdaughter, LaVerna Burt and her husband John, Greenville; and two stepsons, Michael Suich and his wife Patricia; and Richard Suich and his wife Sandy, all Greenville.
He also leaves: two brothers, Harold “Jake” McClelland, Greenville; and Paul McClelland, Jacksonville, Fla.; three sisters, Vera Fox, Sharpsville; Sue Henderson, Hermitage; and Patricia Shaffer, Greenville; 11 grandchildren, several stepgrandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several stepgreat-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Jennifer McClelland, Greenville.
Besides his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Donald McClelland; and two sisters, Rita Eakin and Jean Oakes.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hillside Presbyterian Church, 2 N. High St., Greenville, PA 16125.
McCLELLAND
Clyde Wayne, 89, of 316 Clinton St., Greenville.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday (2-9-10) in LOUTZENHISER-JORDAN COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 366-68 S. Main St., Greenville. Visitors may sign an online guestbook and view a video tribute at www.loutzenhiser-jordanfuneralhome.com
Service: Funeral service at 2 p.m. Wednesday (2-10-10) in Hillside Presbyterian Church, Greenville, with the Rev. Aland D. Smith, pastor, officiating.
Interment: With committal and military honors at Shenango Valley Cemetery, Greenville.
