Walter R. “Bob” McClure, age 84,
of Lititz, Pennsylvania, formerly of the New Bremen area, passed away on Monday, October 31, 2022 surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Born in Lima on September 15, 1938, he was the husband of Doris E. (Bushman) McClure, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage this past September 23rd. Bob was the son of the late Walter A. and Mabel (Frische) McClure who raised Bob on ‘the family farm’. He was a graduate of New Knoxville High School and The Ohio State University where he received combined Bachelors and Masters degrees in Ag Engineering. He remained an avid Buckeye fan his whole life.
Bob worked as a Product Planner for 23 years, working for Ford Tractor, England and New Holland, retiring from the Ford Motor Company in Michigan in 1998. He had served for 6 years in the U.S. Army reaching rank of Captain. Bob’s interests were collecting model trains from Britain, researching genealogy, playing bridge, travelling, map collecting and doing research on the computer. He was a member of Lititz United Methodist Church and was active in various church and civic groups.
In addition to his wife, Doris, he is survived by his daughters: Karen A. married to William G. Morgan of Lititz, PA, and Tonya L. Conz of Delta, PA; his 6 grandchildren: Jason Lubold, Zachary Conz, Riley Morgan, Karina Morgan, Caroline Morgan, and Ryan Morgan married to Devan, and a great-granddaughter Lucy Jane. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas McClure.
A small service was held on November 11, 2022 in Pennsylvania. Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Service to celebrate Bob’s life on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at the St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Inurnment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery in New Bremen. There will be a light luncheon and time of fellowship following the services. Prior to the services, there will be a time of visitation from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bob’s memory to the Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 (www.parkinson.org) or to the New Bremen American Legion Post 241 Memorial Fund. The Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home is assisting the family locally, and online condolences can be left at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.