RICHARD A. “DICK” McCLELLAND

Richard “Dick” McClelland

Richard A. “Dick” McClelland, 81, of Springfield, Mo., formerly of Rushville, died Feb. 28, 2019, at the Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Mo.

He was born Jan. 13, 1938, in Rushville, a son of William H. and Lucille Pryor McClelland and he was raised in the home of his grandparents C.W. “Ned” and Ruby Thurman. He married Kay Powell on Jan. 27, 1962, in Rushville. She survives.

Also surviving are two children, Kelly (and Shawn) Kepler of Fair Grove, Mo., and Rich McClelland of Springfield, Mo.; three grandchildren, Jacob Kepler, Kayla (and Derek) Daniels and Dani Kepler; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Roberta McClelland; stepfather, Jack Johnson; and two brothers, Charles McClelland and William McClelland Jr.

A 1956 graduate of Rushville High School, he served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict, from June 6, 1956, to April 19, 1958. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree from Western Illinois University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University.

He taught at Union High School in Oquawka for four years. He then worked from 1965-78 for Northern Illinois Gas Company first as a Safety Engineer and later as the Director of Safety. In 1978, he began as a Director of Loss Control with Associated Electric Company in Moberly, Mo., retiring in 1997, from the Springfield, Mo., office.

He was a member of Campbell Methodist Church in Springfield, Mo., Rushville Masonic Lodge A.F. and A.M. #9 in Rushville and the Springfield, Mo., Shrine Club. He served as chairman of the Editorial Board of American Society of Safety Engineers, a member of the National Safety Council, the Missouri Governors Health and Safety Committee and as a board director of the Missouri Safety Council. He also was a volunteer firefighter in both West Chicago and Moberly, Mo. He taught fire school for Texas A and M University. He enjoyed NASCAR and Indy racing and worked in the pit of Bobby Unser for many years during the Indy 500.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville with David Haney officiating. Burial will follow in the Rushville City Cemetery with military rites by the U.S. Marines Burial Detail and the Schuyler American Legion Post #4. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

A Memorial Service will be held at his church at a later date.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 3/6/2019