McClure, Nathan

Nathan Dixon McClure, Jr. (Nate) passed away peacefully on April 11, 2011 in Southern Pines, NC, surrounded by his family. Nate was born November 16, 1919 in Akron, Ohio, the son of Nathan D. and Louise O McClure. Nate was a retired banker and community leader. Nate was a graduate of the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville Connecticut (1938), and Yale University (1942). He served in the US Army from 1942 until 1946. While in the Army and stationed at Blacksburg, Virginia, his commanding officer arranged a date with his sister-in-law, Charloette (DeDe) Bender. They were married in December 1943. She passed away in 1993. He then married Renee Hyatt in 1994. She survives him. After his discharge from the Army, he joined the Northern Trust Company and became a trust officer. In 1960 he joined the First National Bank and Trust Company of Rockford, Illinois. He served as Vice President and Trust Officer from 1963 until 1975 and Senior Trust Officer until his retirement in 1983. It was his service to the community that defined Nate. He joined the Rotary Club of Rockford, Illinois in 1965, and served as a member of the Board of Directors. Rotary‘s motto is “Service Above Self”. He lived that motto and remained a proud Rotarian until his death. When he moved from Rockford to Carolina Trace, he joined the Sanford Rotary Club and then joined the Rotary Club of Pinehurst when he moved to Pinehurst. He was active in as many activities as he could be. He was a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow. While in college, he served as a Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop. He continued that while living in Geneva, Illinois. After moving to Rockford, he became a neighborhood commissioner and then a member of the Executive Board of the local Council. He received the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his dedicated service. He served as President of the Illinois Banker‘s Association Trust Division. He was a member of the Rockford College Board of Counselors. Nate was a member of the Board of Trustees of Rockford Memorial Hospital and served terms as secretary and president of the board. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Goldie B, Floberg Center for Children in Rockton, Illinois and served terms as treasurer and president. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Keith Country Day School, a private secondary school, and served as secretary for many years. His service to the Rockford Community Trust, now the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, was one of the avenues of service that he enjoyed the most. He was a member of the Board of Trustees and served as Secretary for seven years. When he retired from banking, he became the Community Trusts first employee, serving as the part-time paid Executive Secretary from 1977 until 1983. Nate contracted polio when he was in high school. In recent years, he suffered from Post-Polio Syndrome, a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Most often, polio survivors start to experience gradual new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and also in muscles that seemingly were unaffected by the virus. As the weakening increased, Nate was forced to give up his favorite activities of golf and cruises. He spent his last days surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Renee. He is also survived by his son, Nathan D. McClure, III and wife Donna, of Lynchburg, Virginia, stepdaughter, Cheryl Crumpecker and husband Skip, of Kansas City, Missouri, stepson, Dennis Hyatt and wife Patty, of Eugene, Oregon; three granddaughters: Teal McClure and fiancé, Anthony Iovinetti, of Lynchburg, Alicia McClure Schneider and husband Michael, of Bedford, Virginia, and Megan McClure; two step-grandchildren, Christina Crumpecker of Denver, Colorado, and Cayce Gilhousen and husband Brian of Kansas City, Missouri, and one great-granddaughter, Gabriella McClure, of Lynchburg, Virginia. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Welkos, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his parents, his brother, Douglas, two sisters, Priscilla McClure, and Ann Schirmer. Memorials to Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Campaign. Memorials should be sent to: Rotary International, One Rotary Center 1560 Sherman Ave. , Evanston, IL 60210 Memorial service will be held 1:00 pm Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines. Family will receive friends following the service.