PLEASE READ:

"Those who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with the future, do not perform their duty to the world" ~ Daniel Webster

All my folks are famous to me!!

PLEASE READ:
This site consists of free genealogy information that may only be used to further your personal genealogy research. It may not be used for commercial purposes. Please source the information you receive from this blog as some information was acquired through original sources. Also many family members and institutions have graciously donated information and personal photos that can not be found anywhere else on the internet, so please remember to document individual sources (listed at the end of each biography) to your work.

CK BACK WEEKLY FOR UPDATES ON BIO'S

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Richard Wilson McClellan

Richard Wilson and Velma (Cates) McClellan

Richard Wilson McClellan was born on Oct 6, 1914 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to James Henry McClellan and Ellise Emma Belle (Daniels) McClellan.  Richard was 1 of 9 children born into the family.  At the age of 6 years old, the family removed to Sikeston, Missouri where he completed his education before enlisting into the United States Army Air Corps.  He received his military training in Greenville, Mississippi and Kearns, Utah and served in the South Pacific war area.  During his service he married Velma Clara Cates on April 23, 1944 in Greenville, Mississippi, the daughter of Ira and Ida Nee (Koetting) Cates. This union produced 3 children, all living into adulthood.  Richard supported his family by working for the McDonnell’s Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed for 30 years.  He passed away at the age of 65 in December 1979 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Waterloo, Illinois.  Velma lived another 30 years and no supporting documents confirm she remarried.  Velma passed away September 1, 2009 in Waterloo, Illinois.  The couple are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri.

Sikeston Herald
April 27, 1944
Sikeston Herald
September 24, 1944 
Sikeston Herald
July 9, 1953
Children of Richard and Velma: 
Richard "Ricky" Wilson McClellan II
Cherry Nell McClellan (Generous)
Deborah McClellan

Velma (Cates) McClellan
Headstone
Richard Wilson McClellan
Grave Marker

Source: Biography written by Debbie West
Richard Wilson McClellan Obituary
WWII Army Enlistment Database
Social Security Administration
Photo of Richard and Velma provided by Carolyn McClellan
Grave Photos provided by Sondra Jones Wills from Find A Grave.com Memorial #36455465
Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

About Me

My photo
I started researching my family tree last year. My father is a West and my mother is a McClellan. Researching my family history has truly been a monumental task. I’ve spent untold hours searching for long lost relatives… Where’s a ghost whisperer when you need one? With the surname McClellan being so popular due to General George B. McClellan and the surname West being a geographical direction, the hunt was hindered on many occasions. Search engines have run me through the ringer. The fact is, I threw my hands in the air and swore to walk away from this project more times than I can remember. It really is a roller coaster ride. This project has caused me tears of anger, tears of joy and has heightened my already existing anxiety disorder to its limits. It has forced me to be patient when I didn’t want to be and caused me to be organized and detail oriented, which that in itself is a huge achievement. But most of all, it gave me hope and a sense of belonging.