Dale McClure Stewart

Patricia "Dale" McClure Stewart passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the age of 84. Born in Newport News, Virginia on November 20, 1940, the oldest of six children, she and her family moved to several places, including Tennessee and Texas before settling in San Antonio where she attended Jefferson High School, graduating in 1959. After graduation, she worked at The City of San Antonio where she met her future husband Tom W. Stewart, a traffic engineer. They married in April 1964 and established themselves in Corpus Christi where they had their two daughters Elaine in 1969 and Claire in 1971.

Dale was very involved at First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi and spent many years volunteering her time there as an elder, deacon, church treasurer, Sunday School teacher and Bible School teacher. She also served on various committees, including the Mission Committee, the Welcoming Committee and the Women of the Church Committee in which she acted as Moderator in 2009. In addition, she was a long-time member of the church Garden Club and enjoyed volunteering in the church library, participating in the bell choir and helping those in need.

Dale's joy of volunteering and helping others extended into other places as well, including the Museum of Science and History where she became the Membership Chairman and eventually at the Corpus Christi Art Museum as a docent where she gave tours to students. This complemented her years as an artist in which she spent time painting, doing ceramics, creating Christmas ornaments and many other artistic endeavors.

Dale was an avid gardener and loved creating beautiful flower beds and tending to the unique shrubs and trees in her backyard which attracted many butterflies, hummingbirds and unusual migratory birds. It was always a treat to view these birds through the window or while relaxing on the backyard patio!

Dale will always be remembered as a kind, caring person who gave so much of her time helping others. She was also a wonderfully devoted mother and grandmother to her daughters and four grandchildren who loved her so much.

Dale is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Elaine and Vytas Petrulis of Houston, and Claire and Tom Nagle of Austin, along with her four grandchildren Eva and Rex Petrulis, and Ellie and Caroline Nagle, as well as her siblings Barbara Smith and brother-in-law Ross Smith, David McClure and sister-in-law Yolanda McClure, Len McClure and sister-in-law Li Hua McClure and Melissa Stuth and brother-in-law Kenton Stuth and many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. Dale is preceded in death by her husband Tom W. Stewart, her newborn son Jed, her sister Sarah Kathleen ("Kathy") McClure Thompson and her parents Sarah and Joe McClure.

Dale's family would especially like to recognize and thank Laura Bustamante, Michelle Torres, Esmeralda Garza and those who cared for Dale at Esmeralda's Place. They not only cared for her, but became dear friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Seaside Funeral Home. There will be a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi. Interment to follow at 1:30 pm at Seaside Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center at www.stxbot.org.