1921
James
2020
James Warren McClure
July 4, 1921 — May 14, 2020
James Warren McClure passed away May 14, 2020.
Jim was born in Valparaiso, IN on July 4, 1921. The family moved to Indianapolis in the early 1930s to a town called Ravenswood North of Indianapolis. He attended both Shortridge and Broad Ripple High Schools. There he was in the ROTC.
He joined the Indiana State Guard reaching the rank of Sergeant. After school Jim went to at Hittle Tool and Die working with metals. When World War II broke out State Guard was nationalized, and he went into the military serving in the Army Air Force. Most of his time was spent in the Far East as a radio operator and mechanic and discharged after Japan surrendered.
Returning home, he went to work for PR Mallery Company again working with metals.
He attended Butler University under the GI bill and received a degree in US history.
He became vice principal of a small school west of Plainfield, IN and later became a teacher for the Greenfield school district. Shortly thereafter, he went to Washington Township school district in Indianapolis, teaching at Nora elementary and Junior High School.
While living in Ravenswood, Jim and his two brothers joined the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department and later after moving to Rocky Ripple he joined the Rocky Ripple Fire Department where he became chief several times.
Jim purchased a five acre farm north of Browsburg and there built an elaborate blacksmith shop, doing blacksmithing for his neighbors and for fun. Jim joined and later became president of three different blacksmith organizations and was even traveling abroad to learn blacksmithing in Europe.
Jim and his two brothers were invited by the Indy Honor Flight on a one-day tour of the new World War II memorial in Washington DC and there were honored to lay the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Governor Mike Pence saw this on television and requested an audience with them and that also was a great honor.
Mr. McClure married Wendy Millholland around 1950 and they had three children: Michael, Kathy and Jeffrey. He is survived by daughter Kathy who lives in Texas; son Jeffrey who lives in Indianapolis; brother Richard McClure of Indianapolis; and his friend Lou Cunningham who he has resided with for the last 30 years in Carmel. His brother Robert and sister Sara Ashcraft have passed before him.
Jim's greatest treasure in life was teaching children American History and working as a metallurgist doing blacksmithing work.
A burial service will be held at a later date.
Jim was born in Valparaiso, IN on July 4, 1921. The family moved to Indianapolis in the early 1930s to a town called Ravenswood North of Indianapolis. He attended both Shortridge and Broad Ripple High Schools. There he was in the ROTC.
He joined the Indiana State Guard reaching the rank of Sergeant. After school Jim went to at Hittle Tool and Die working with metals. When World War II broke out State Guard was nationalized, and he went into the military serving in the Army Air Force. Most of his time was spent in the Far East as a radio operator and mechanic and discharged after Japan surrendered.
Returning home, he went to work for PR Mallery Company again working with metals.
He attended Butler University under the GI bill and received a degree in US history.
He became vice principal of a small school west of Plainfield, IN and later became a teacher for the Greenfield school district. Shortly thereafter, he went to Washington Township school district in Indianapolis, teaching at Nora elementary and Junior High School.
While living in Ravenswood, Jim and his two brothers joined the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department and later after moving to Rocky Ripple he joined the Rocky Ripple Fire Department where he became chief several times.
Jim purchased a five acre farm north of Browsburg and there built an elaborate blacksmith shop, doing blacksmithing for his neighbors and for fun. Jim joined and later became president of three different blacksmith organizations and was even traveling abroad to learn blacksmithing in Europe.
Jim and his two brothers were invited by the Indy Honor Flight on a one-day tour of the new World War II memorial in Washington DC and there were honored to lay the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Governor Mike Pence saw this on television and requested an audience with them and that also was a great honor.
Mr. McClure married Wendy Millholland around 1950 and they had three children: Michael, Kathy and Jeffrey. He is survived by daughter Kathy who lives in Texas; son Jeffrey who lives in Indianapolis; brother Richard McClure of Indianapolis; and his friend Lou Cunningham who he has resided with for the last 30 years in Carmel. His brother Robert and sister Sara Ashcraft have passed before him.
Jim's greatest treasure in life was teaching children American History and working as a metallurgist doing blacksmithing work.
A burial service will be held at a later date.
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