Archibald McClure

1922 - 2022

Archibald McClure
August 19, 1922 - August 6, 2022
Archibald McClure was born on August 19, 1922, in South Bend, IN. Upon graduation from The Hotchkiss School in 1940 and Yale University in 1944, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy and served as a Combat Information Center officer and later as Executive Officer on a destroyer with two convoy escort runs in the Atlantic and two and a half years operating as a picket ship to support carrier task forces in the Pacific. After the war, Arch joined the engineering department of The Quaker Oats Company in 1946 upon retirement from the Navy as a Lieutenant and worked at Quaker plants in Memphis, TN, Harrisburg, PA, Cedar Rapids, IA, St Joseph, MO, and eventually settling the family in Kenilworth, IL. He retired from Quaker as an Executive Vice President and Director in 1979. He then served as Vice President in Administration of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago until retirement in 1988. He served on the Board of Directors of the Quaker Oats Company, Holiday Inn, First Illinois Bank, and Sciaky Brothers. He supported many charitable, educational and civic organizations such as National Boy Scouts, Coe College, IlT, United Fund, and served as President of School and Kenilworth Union Church Boards, Presbyterian Home in Evanston and United Religions Initiative. Arch was married to Sallie Van Norden for 40 years, father to children, Archibald McClure (Susie), John McClure (Lisa), Sallie Stanley (Justin), and Marion Cartwright (Gene). He has eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was then married to Anne Cunningham Downey for 28 years, and was the stepfather to her five daughters, Wells Hamilton (Henry), Place Tegland, Brooks Newton (Rod), Susan McLean, and Anne Wallace, eleven grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Arch and Anne maintained residences in San Francisco, CA, Harbor Springs, MI, Vero Beach, FL, and Evanston, IL. Arch nearly made it to his 100th birthday on August 19. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on the morning of August 6, 2022. Though dementia had clouded his memory, he knew his family had been watching over him in his last weeks and family love was what mattered most to him. There will be a family celebration of his life next summer in Northport, Michigan. Gifts in Arch's memory may be sent to: The Sallie Van Norden McClure Scholarship Fund. Smith College, Alumnae and Donor Relations, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA, 01063. Info: donnellanfuneral.com or (847) 675-1990.