Herbert Dean McClure's Obituary
Herbert Dean McClure was born on March 16th, 1924 in Neodesha, KS and passed away peacefully in Tulsa on January 29th, 2018. He was 93.A decorated WWII war veteran, Herb bravely served in the U.S. Army, 90th Infantry Division (357th Battalion), known as the “Tough ‘Ombres.” During his service, Herb served as a combat infantryman, investigator, and prison guard where he supervised Nazi officers who were convicted at the War Crimes Tribunals held at Nuremberg and Dachau.Just before leaving for war on August 26th, 1944, Herb made a promise to his then-girlfriend, Bonnie, that he would marry her when he made it back home. On his 21stbirthday, while under attack by German forces and despite the very real possibility of being killed in action that day, he found the strength to fight if only to keep his promise to Bonnie that he would marry her. He kept his word.On August 4, 1946, only 30 days after returning from war, he married Bonnie Gentry in Parsons, KS. That same year, he and Bonnie moved to Tulsa where Herb began to work at Gentry Job Shop, an already well-established family business specializing in custom cabinetry and furniture. Ten years later, Herb came to own the shop and in 1972 his son Ken joined the business, adding McClure Furniture Refinishing to the business name.After first entering the workforce when he was just 11-years-old at his grandparents’ Depression-era dairy farm, Herb, an adamant and hard worker, finally retired at age 92.Throughout his life, Herb enjoyed fishing and boating at Grand Lake. There, he built two cabins in Lakemont Shores and spent many weekends enjoying the outdoors with family. Herb was always there when something needed to be repaired, replaced, built, or demolished. His work ethic was second-to-none.Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Bert and Golden (Borlase) McClure of Neodesha, KS and two sisters, Helen Kemp and Ada Caldwell, both of Neodesha, KS.He is survived by his beautiful wife of 71 years, Bonnie (Gentry) McClure; two sisters, Florence Kammerer of Neodesha and Mary Grey of Lee’s Summit, MO; two children, Janet (McClure) Edwards and Kenneth McClure and wife Ginger; three grandchildren, Denise (McClure) Rhames, Jeremy Edwards and Stacey (McClure) Jenkins and their spouses; four great-grandchildren, Brooklynn and Brittan Jenkins and Logan and Molly Rhames.Visitation will be 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Thursday, February 1st, Floral Haven Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 2nd at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, Broken Arrow . Minister and friend Roy Lyons will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org/donate.
What’s your fondest memory of Herbert?
What’s a lesson you learned from Herbert?
Share a story where Herbert's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Herbert you’ll never forget.
How did Herbert make you smile?