McClelland

Richard L. "Dick" McClelland, 62, of Butler died at peacefully in his sleep at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday while holding his wife's hand and surrounded by his family at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He had battled pancreatic cancer for more than a year.

He was born in Butler, Feb. 11, 1947, the youngest child of the late Gardiner and Esther Beneigh McClelland.

A 1965 graduate of Butler High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam. He received several awards including the Vietnam Service medal.

Dick had been employed at the East Butler location of the Marmon Keystone Corp. for 38 years, retiring in 2008.

He attended East Butler Presbyterian Church and had been active in the Butler Post 249 VFW, where he had held several offices.

He and his wife were members of the Shuffleboard Bowling League and Tenpin Bowling League, traveling to many tournaments statewide. He also was a member of the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora and the Slovak Club.

Traveling and spending time with his wife and family were two of his greatest passions, and Geneva-on-the-Lake was an annual vacation.

Dick made it easy for people to like him.

Among the people who remain loving him are his wife and constant companion, Debby Fair McClelland, who he married Aug. 25, 1998; two sons, Eric McClelland and his wife, Diane, of Butler and Deron McClelland and his wife, Becky, of Clinton, Mich.; six much-loved grandchildren, Robbie in Butler and Emmaleigh, Ethan, Olivia, Ivy and Anders of Clinton; a sister, Joan (Ed) Douglass of Butler; a brother, Jack (Judy) McClelland of Meridian; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

<B>MCCLELLAND </B>— There will be no visitation. A private memorial service for Richard L. "Dick" McClelland, who died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, will take place for his family. Cremation services were provided by <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, Butler.Additional information can be found and condolence messages placed at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.