Donald William McClelland

Donald William McClelland
January 15, 1913 - May 5, 2013
After achieving the final goal of reaching 100 years of age, Donald Wm. McClelland passed away on May 5, 2013, at home, surrounded by his wife and daughters. Donald lived the majority of his life in Akron, Ohio. He attended the Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron. In his senior year of high school (1931), Don broke the city pole vaulting record which stood until 1953 when the pole was redesigned to be more flexible.
In 1934, Don joined All States Freight, Inc. - a large trucking company that served an area covering Chicago to New England. After serving All States for 38 years, the last seven as president, Don left the company when it was sold to Pacific Intermountain Express.
Don left Akron in 1970 to join Industrial Plastics Corp. in Elkhart, Indiana. There he contributed his talents in growing this fledgling business as Chief Executive Officer. He remained with IPC until it was sold in 1986.
During his many years in Akron, Don served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Common Carrier Conference of the American Trucking Association. He served on the Board of Directors of Akron General Hospital and the YMCA. While a board member of the YMCA, he headed up the annual membership drive, succeeding with an all time record. Don served as President of the Akron Trucking Association and a term as President of The Traffic Club of Akron. Additionally, Don was active in several community United Fund drives. For many years, Don was a generous contributor to projects of the University of Akron and to the Midwest Museum of American Art, in Elkhart, Indiana. For many years, Don was active in Twelve Step work with Alcoholics Anonymous. He was finance chairman for several years at the First Methodist Church, a long standing member and supporter of Phi Delta Theta, a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Elcona Country Club (Elkhart, Indiana).
Donald married his high school sweetheart, Jane Heacock, in 1935. Together, they shared life's journey for 77 years. They have three daughters, Hannah Doran of Fairfield Glades, Tenn., Barbara (Bitsy) Kirk (deceased) of Elkhart, Ind., and Donna VanDerAue of West Bloomfield, Mich. Left behind are sons-in-law, Bruce Doran, Charles Kirk, and John VanDerAue. There are nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday in the Chapel of St. Paul's Episcopal Church (corner of W. Market St. and Kenilworth Dr.), with Rev. Mark J. Pruitt officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of the following endowments or museum: The Dr. Charles Alexander McClelland Endowment Scholarship, % The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-2603; Donald and Jane McClelland Library Endowment Fund (Make Checks to the University of Houston and note the endowment fund), % University of Houston, 114 University Libraries, Houston, TX 77204-2000; Midwest Museum of American Art, 429 South Main Street, Elkhart, IN 46516. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence, Light a Candle or Send Flowers, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 330-867-4141)