Robert Michael McClellan

Robert Michael "Mike" McClellan went to be with his Lord on July 26. He was 85. Mike was the born in Porterville, CA on June 23, 1932 to James B. and Margaret (Shirley) McClellan. He began his schooling at St. Anne's School in Porterville. In 1941 he moved to Berkeley, CA and attended Whittier School before moving to Lindsay following the death of his mother. He moved to Lindsay where he lived with Walter and Marye Baxley, friends of his parents. There he attended Jefferson School. In 1943, he joined his father in San Diego where he attended Our Lady of the Angels School, Memorial Junior High, and San Diego High School. Following the death of his father in 1949, Mike returned to Lindsay and the Baxleys. In 1950, he graduated from Lindsay High School, where he had participated in football, track & field, and drama. Following his high school graduation, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Navy one week before receiving his draft notice for the army. He served for the next four years, which included service during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the navy in 1955, but soon after enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force for the next sixteen years, completing twenty years of military service, retiring in 1971. On November 6, 1955, Mike married Wanda Thomas. Together they had three children: Michael, Debbie, and Cherie. Following his military retirement, he worked at Perma Rain Irrigation, the Lindsay Gazette and the Visalia Times-Delta before working for the Lindsay Unified School District as head custodian at Lindsay High. After both retiring from Lindsay Unified School District, Mike and Wanda moved to Oaktree Estates in Visalia. Mike McClellan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Wanda McClellan of Visalia; his brother Jim McClellan of San Carlos; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Esther McClellan of Martinez, CA; daughters Debbie McClellan of Visalia and Cherie Aldrich and(John Wentworth) of Exeter; grandchildren Joshua McClellan and (Seth Jawitz), Audra O'Connell, Stephanie Victorino and (Justin), Seth McClellan, Holly McClellan and Nicole Aldrich; five great-grandchildren; and numerus nieces and nephews. Mike was known as a kind, gentle, thoughtful, and loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, and friend. He was so honored to have served his country, loved his family and his Lord, Jesus Christ, and truly believed in God's amazing grace. A service will be held at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia on August 6 at 1:00 P.M., followed by a reception in the Oaktree Estates clubhouse. A Memorial Tribute can be offered by logging into www.salseranddillard.com.

Robert Michael McClellan

June 23, 1932 - July 26, 2017