Floyd B. McClintock

Floyd B. McClintock passed away Sunday afternoon, February 18, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving albeit slightly irreverent family.
Floyd was a New Years' baby born to William and Goldie Dillon McClintock in the tiny borough of Arona located in the coal mining region of eastern Pennsylvania, a hard-working melting pot of every variety of impoverished immigrants. His family joined the automotive migration to Michigan and moved to Metamora early in Floyd's childhood, where before the age of 10, he ignited his strong appetite for work; picked apples and pears from the top of the trees, painted his aunt's house, helped plant 600 bare root trees on a local farm, assisted with the construction of a four seasons room, milked cows, picked potatoes along side migrant workers, hustled his way onto a golf course as a caddy, was one of the youngest professional fly tiers in the USA, and many other ventures. Eventually his family moved to Birch Run, where he continued his penchant for work at Midland Moving around the age of 13. While in Birch Run, Floyd developed a bit of a 'bad boy' charisma and enjoyed various activities which were underappreciated by the parents of his love interest, Janet. In 1961, he graduated from Birch Run High School and married the love of his life Janet 'The Fox' Belill at the Justice of the Peace on May 4, 1963. Shortly thereafter, they were married in the St Mary's Cathedral in Saginaw on May 10, 1963, much to the appreciation of his mother-in-law and moderate agitation of the local priest and bishop.
Shortly after leaving Midland Moving in his mid-twenties, Floyd hired into General Motors, where he worked for 31 years primarily on 3rd shift at AC Delco (Delphi) on Dort Highway. As a lifetime progressive Democrat, Floyd was definitely pro worker and anti corporate greed. He was a proud UAW member of Local 651, but he was equally quick to challenge management ignorance and corporate greed of UAW and General Motors alike. Notoriously, Floyd secretly screen printed t-shirts with a political caricature of the GM-UAW contract negotiated by Jack Smith and Owen Bieber, mocking "They got the cash, and we got the shaft!"
Working 3rd shift wasn't enough for Floyd, so he opened Mid Michigan Screen Printing "on the side" in the late 1970s, where he indoctrinated his children with a strong work ethic, taught them to prevaricate upon demand, and help pay for college. Sleeping roughly 3 hours per day, he realized that he still had too much free time. So, he joined the volunteer Birch Run Fire Department for 16 years and served on the Village Council for 8 years. Additionally, he taught CCD, 4H in downtown Saginaw, and various youth sports. Floyd retired from GM in 1999 and eventually closed the family screen printing business in 2022. Luckily, he was able to employ his grandchildren before he closed the shop, thus passing on his work ethic to the next generation, as well as sharing many semi-inappropriate stories, such as 'The Chimp', and 'Knee Walking'.
In concert with his work ethic, he also had an undying commitment to family, friends, and the societal underdog. He was always quick to defend his family and friends. And he fearlessly crossed both racial and social boundaries. He was never shy to commit his time or money to worthy causes. It's estimated that he helped fix, remodel, and build dozens of houses and apartments without compensation. Having worked at Midland Moving for many years, he was the "mover extraordinaire" and helped numerous family and friends move across town and across the country tessellating entire houses into small trucks and trailers, again without payment. He was known to brag excessively about his grandkids' accomplishments in school, sports, college, railroad, and cosmetology. He was a great dad and an amazing Hoppa. He absolutely loved his grandkids and enjoyed watching them become uniquely themselves. Also known as "The Potato" by his grandchildren for being brown-n-round, he was definitely the "World's Proudest Hoppa", always attending even the smallest events from track meets to county 4H, and from band concerts and parades to rock concerts and train rides.
It's confusing to contemplate that he had any remaining free time, yet he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, telling humorous stories and jokes, grilling, sharing wine, fishing, camping, tying flies, and spending time outdoors, with trips to Pennsylvania and throughout Michigan, especially to Meredith, northern lower Michigan, and the UP. He was boastfully proud of being known as "the Bare Knuckle Champ." Floyd loved sharing time with kids in the community. The neighborhood children loved to share stories with Floyd and appreciated his patient listening, and optimistic encouragement in sports and studies. They especially loved popsicles in the summer, even though they were dispensed from the wrong end.
The family wishes to send a special thank you to nurse practitioner Lori Jones FNPBC and Jamie Thompson from The Care Team Hospice of Flint, MI for their care and support.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, John, his parents and siblings Mildred Oplinger, Gilbert McClintock, Vivian Reeves, and Delores McClintock. He is survived by his brothers Elmer "Harry" (Patricia) McClintock, Milton "Bill" (Linda) McClintock, and Richard McClintock.
He leaves behind his wife Janet and their three children; Steven (DeAnn) McClintock Fremont, MI, Jeffrey (Stephanie) McClintock Flushing, MI and Kerri (Robert) Brancheau, Lewiston, MI. He had five grandchildren whom he loved dearly: Kieran (Madeline) McClintock Seattle, WA, Dillon McClintock, East Lansing, MI, and Eamon McClintock, Houghton, MI, Robert Brancheau, New Lothrop, MI and Erinn Brancheau, Howell, MI. He was their biggest fan in all their endeavors. Floyd had many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Everyone should be comforted to know that Floyd was cremated wearing his iconic khaki pants, a bootleg MSU Track t-shirt, and of course a folded paper towel in his front pocket. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Girls on the Run Mid Michigan (gotrmidmichigan.org/donate) or to the Birch Run Class of '64 Scholarship Fund (Class of 64, P.O. Box 258, Birch Run, MI 48415). Please sign our guest book or share online condolences with the family at www.oguinnfh.com.
O'Guinn Family Funeral Home
Birch Run Chapel
989-624-9342