Charles McClure

Coal miner and carpenter was active in church
Charles “Chuck” McClure, 84, of Mt. Morris, and formerly of Mannington, W.Va., passed away peacefully in his home with loving family near, at 12:15 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born August 5, 1929, in Wheeling, W.Va., the only son of the late Charles Franklin and Beulah P. Collins McClure.
Mr. McClure spent 45 years working as a coal miner, a profession he dearly loved. Most of his career was spent in the maintenance and electrical fields. He worked 37 of those years at Consolidation Coal Co. Four States Mine, where, at one time, sons Richard and Roger also worked with him. After the mine closed, he worked his remaining eight years in Humphrey and Osage mines. He retired in 1993 and enjoyed 20 years of retirement. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America Four States Local 4060. He had recently received his gold membership card.
On November 26, 1989, he married Carole Lee Franks, who survives. They made their home in Mt. Morris.
Mr. McClure attended Mt. Morris United Methodist Church, where he served on the pastoral board and was a trustee. He was currently a member of Whiteley Creek Community Church in Waynesburg.
In earlier years, he attended Calvary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and trustee. He helped to build the current church located on Route 250 in Mannington.
He was an excellent carpenter and built four homes for three of his children.
In retirement, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, loved to walk often, walking five miles a day, in Morgantown Mall. He enjoyed his family, his friends, his home and lawn. He loved traveling to Ohio Amish country with his wife, Carole.
Also surviving are a daughter, Sandra “Sandy” McClure-Malcolm and husband Richard of Fairmont, W.Va.; three sons, Richard D. McClure and wife Susan of Fairmont, Gary Douglas and wife Deborah and Roger and wife Renee, all of Mannington; a stepson, Mark W. Watson and wife Melissa of Holly Springs, N.C.; 12 grandchildren, Melanie McClure DeFrance and husband Jason, Lori West Laxton and husband Clint, Clinton David McClure, Chad McClure and wife Amanda, Christopher McClure, Andrew McClure, Alexa McClure, Haley McClure, Colin McClure, Lyra Watson, Samantha Watson and Jacob Watson; seven great-grandchildren, Isabella, Emily, Jackson, Aubrey, Liam, Chelsa and Braelynn; four sisters, Genevieve VanGilder of Weirton, W.Va., Betty Michael and husband Curtis of Mannington, Rose Marie Dulaney and husband Charles of Colliers and Margaret Ann Maraney and husband William of Morgantown; and a very special nephew, Lee Watson of Mapletown.
Also surviving are many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Preceding him in death are a stepson, William Watson; a sister, Carol Sue Heupp and husband Robert; and a brother-in-law Edward “Dick” VanGilder.
There will be no public viewing at the request of the deceased.
Funeral arrangements are private at the direction of Yoskovich Funeral Home, 724-966-5500, Martin J. Yoskovich, funeral director, 300 South Vine Street, Carmichaels. The family request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to American Cancer Society or to Whiteley Creek Community Church, P.O. Box 808, Waynesburg, PA 15370. For additional information and to sign a guest book, please visit www.YoskovichFH.com.