Robert Lee McClendon's Obituary
MCCLENDON, JR., ROBERT LEE Born March 9, 1919. He went to be with the Lord- December, 20, 2012 at the age of 93. Robert is survived by his loving wife of nearly 10 years, Grace McClendon , his 3 children, Robert Lee McClendon, III. and daughter-in-law Kathy McClendon, Kathryn Lynette McClendon Weedn and Don Michael McClendon, and his wife, Nancy McClendon, 11 grandchildren-Jennifer McClendon, Stephanie & Brittan Rogers, Elizabeth & Westley Huffman, Sara & Clay Selby, Miller & Brittany Weedn, Mitch Weedn, Nathan and Novella McClendon, Eric & Courtney McClendon, Joy & Casey Spencer, Hannah McClendon, Grace McClendon and 8 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his 1st wife of 59 years, Dorothy Jonon McClendon, his mother, Lydia Ermine Wisewell McClendon, his father Robert Lee McClendon Sr. and 2 sisters Hazel Rogers and Marie Inman. Robert was born in Rosebud, Texas where he lived until he was 18. He lost his father in an oil field accident when he was about 4 years old. His mother, Ermine, got $8,000 from Insurance. She bought a dairy farm in Rosebud and raised her 3 children there. Robert worked hard on the dairy farm and he excelled in the Boy Scouts earning the Eagle Scout award. He graduated from Rosebud High School in 1937. He went to Tyler Commercial College to study to be a Radio Operator. There he learned Morse code which led to his World War II service as a radio operator- transmitter in the U.S. Coast Guard/ Merchant Marines. Robert’s work before and after service in WWII included: Ford Motor Assembly Plant, in Dallas, shoe salesman in downtown Dallas, ship yard in Houston, serviced a bubblegum and peanut route with 250 stops all over Dallas and East Texas. He married Dorothy in 1944 just before the war ended. Grace Wilhite Shrode met Robert in 1945 at Peak and Eastside church of Christ. Several couples from their age group shared much time together before they started their families. After Grace’s first husband of 62 years passed away in 2002, Robert started seeing Grace as he was recently widowed also. They each filled a gap and renewed a long friendship which led to Marriage in 2003. Robert whisked Grace to Hawaii for their wedding. They have enjoyed nearly 10 years of marriage with travel and new friendships at Christian Care Center where they have lived. Grace has lovingly cared for Robert in the last several years and has been with him daily as he was on hospice at Christian care center. Robert, later called Mac, began a gas service station service. He tells the story of how he was searching for ways to provide for his family and started visiting gas stations and offered to clean their bathrooms if they would buy some of his cleaning products. They agreed and began his route of service and servicing. His first business name was Mac’s Service and Supply. Mac’s grew in size and scope to eventually become known as Scotch Plaid Chemical Co., a major detergent manufacturer for the car wash industry. Robert sold the business in 1985 to Steve Witt. Steve’s son, Don Witt, continues to head Scotch Plaid. In 1942 Robert joined the Merchant Marine for Maritime training. Was sent to Puerto Rico & then shipped out to New Orleans. (During the war, the Merchant Marine lost two ships out of 13 to German Submarines). Shipped out to Naples Italy as Radio Officer. During this time, his ship the Howard L. Gibson, was in an accident and was written up in the Rosebud paper as Follows: “Local Boy Survives Burning Ship And Flaming Sea Of Flames.” Ensign Robert L. McClendon, radio officer of the U.S. Merchant Marines, feels very fortunate in surviving a serious disaster at sea which endangered the lives of two merchant crews and threatened destruction of both his ship and its valuable cargo. The accident occurred when his ship, the SS Howard L. Gibson, collided with a British Tanker carrying a full load of 100 octane aviation gasoline. The Gibson struck the tanker while trying to avoid a similar collision with a heavily loaded ammunition ship which was out of control due to a faulty steering gear. The resulting explosion caused flames to shoot approximately 250 feet into the evening sky according to Naval observers. The wooden enclosed deck cargo of the Gibson and the surrounding sea was immediately a blazing inferno due to the spraying gasoline and flames. Most of the Gibson crew assembled at the stern of their vessel in order to avoid being completely trapped by the raging flames. In a short time the ship turned to the wind and flames began to leap over the stern definitely 32 trapping the entire crew. The first engineer, who stood by in the engine room, soon had the immediate situation under control when he backed the ship out of the flaming sea. All hands immediately began fighting the fire and in 30 minutes time it was evident that the ship had to be abandoned. Survivors were picked up shortly by a Naval escort vessel. Soon it was evident that the Gibson was not sinking and the crew volunteered to return and save her. Braving exploding ammunition, the desperate crew fought for 30 hours to bring all flames under control. Two members of the Naval Armed Guard aboard the ship were lost during the disaster and several of the crew received severe burns. The Gibson then immediately set out for port some 750 miles away. During the 4 days that the heavily damaged ship was at sea the crew slept very little. A single life raft remained to accommodate the remaining 68 men. Upon arriving in Port, the cargo in the forward holds was still burning, and it took the local fire department two days to completely extinguish the fire. The Gibson safely returned to the States after spending 64 days in a foreign port unloading and receiving emergency repairs. During the return voyage, the battered ship survived 14 days of severe storms and a two hour running battle with a German submarine. The Captain of the vessel sent the following statement to the Secretary of the Navy: “Once again the American seaman’s grit in time of fire and stress at sea has proven itself the very best. The SS Howard L. Gibson collided with a tanker carrying 100 octane gasoline on October4, 1944. Although the vessel was abandoned for two hours because it was feared the forward ammunition magazine was going to explode, the crew willingly and without hesitation returned as volunteers to save her.” Robert, who serves as a radio officer aboard Merchant Ships, has been in the Merchant Marines since October 29, 1942. He has made many voyages carrying war supplies to various theaters of operation. He is now serving in the Pacific Robert was a member of the church of Christ, serving as a deacon at Peak and Eastside church of Christ, Love Field church of Christ, and Elder at Northside church of Christ, and a deacon at Walnut Hill church of Christ. The past 9 years he attended Saturn Road church of Christ and the church of Christ at Christian Care Center. His life was filled with service and encouragement to others. He was privileged to be one of the elders at Northside who began the ministry for Christian Services of the Southwest, later known as Christian Works for Children, an agency for foster care, adoption and counseling support. His service, contributions and encouragement also were given to New Life Behavior Ministries, the India Discipleship Network, Christian Care Centers and Life Line Chaplaincy. Many would agree that Bob was a funny man! Yes, a joke, a smile, and a hug were part of his nature. He loved the “meringue” joke– “Why does my finger look like a pie?? ’cause it’s got my rang on it! His smile, hugs, laughter and jokes will be missed here, but he has a whole new audience in Heaven!! All his family appreciated his love and care and support! If you wish to donate to any of his favorite ministries, please do so! http://www.newlifebehaviour.org.za/index.html – An outreach in Prisons and other ministries. www.christian-works.org/ – Helping children and families meet life’s toughest challenges. http://www.lifelinechaplaincy.org/ – Provides compassionate care to patients in hospitals. www.christiancarecenters.org – Christian Care Centers, Inc., a ministry of churches of Christ, is committed to providing housing and health care services for senior adults and others with special needs in a loving and compassionate environment, which encourages relationships, independence and dignity through spiritual, physical, social and recreational programs.
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