Obituary of Robert E. McClure

Robert E. �Bob� McClure, age 96, of Roach, Missouri, departed this life Friday, August 22, 2014 at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Missouri. Bob was born October 5, 1917, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Fred and Bess J. (Winters) McClure. He was united in marriage August 8, 1946 in Kansas City, Missouri to Betty Mason, and together they shared 68 years of marriage until his death. Bob was drafted into the military in 1941 and proudly served in the United States Air Force for twelve years. He was one of five brothers serving the military simultaneously during WWII. Bob loved his time in the Air Force where he served as a Flight Instructor, training on the B-17 and the B-29. During one of his many training mission flights while stationed in Roswell, New Mexico, Bob was eyewitness to the first atomic bomb detonated for testing; something he said he would never forget. After being honorably discharged, Bob made a career in the Financial Department of GM Motors. Through his employment with GM, Bob and Betty lived in several locations including Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, Van Nuys, California, Oakland, California, Toledo, Ohio, and Janesville, Wisconsin. Each time the family relocated, they easily made friends as their priorities were to find a good church, and good school, in that order. Bob retired from GM in 1972 after 27 years of employment. Bob had always promised Betty he would bring her back home, and having visited the Lake of the Ozarks area before there was a lake, they decided to put roots down in Roach, Missouri, and retired there full time in 1974. In recent years, Bob was an active member of First Baptist Church of Camdenton, Missouri where he faithfully attended. He was a giving, caring, loyal and true friend and a man of integrity who was true to his word. He was a true �people person� who enjoyed having conversations with friends as well as a total stranger. More than anything, Bob loved his family dearly and his greatest joy was spending time with them. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Betty; one son Jim McClure and wife, Jackie, of Edwardsville, Illinois; two sisters, Helen Boyd and husband, Bill, of Independence, Missouri, and Peggy Brown and husband, Dave, of Roach, Missouri; one grandson Steven McClure and one great-granddaughter Alexis McClure; one sister-in-law, Martha Tucker of Raytown, Missouri; along with several nieces and nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Bess McClure; his brothers Herb, Melvin, Richard, Norman, and Billy and his sister Betty Hammonds.