In loving memory of
James A. McClellan
October 2, 1927 - November 9, 2017
James A. McClellan, 90, passed away on November 9, 2017, at Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso, Indiana. Jim was born in the Tolleston neighborhood of Gary on October 2, 1927. He served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II and later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he encoded and decoded military messages. He also learned to fly and successfully soloed in a small plane at the Newcastle, IN airport.
Jim attended Ball State University on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1965 with a degree in business. He became a Certified Public Accountant and for many years worked for Fannie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association, in Chicago. Jim later started his own business, Eagle Realty, in Lake Station.
Jim's hobbies included golf, photography, and bowling. He loved cars and owned many favorites, including a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Corvair convertible, and a green 1969 Camaro. He enjoyed playing card games, especially pinochle. Opponents found Jim very tough to beat because of his ability to remember every card that had been played. He was known for his kindness, generosity, and sense of humor, and was beloved and cherished by his nieces and nephews, to whom he was like a second father.
Jim is survived by his sister, Margaret McClellan; six nieces and nephews: Robert C. McClellan, Michael McClellan and wife Kelly, David McClellan and wife Andrea, Diane Watson, James McClellan and wife Gail, and Laurie McClellan and husband Patrick; eight great-nieces and great-nephews, and seven great grandnieces and great grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Gladys (née Snyder) McClellan; his sister, Ruth McClellan; his brother, Robert McClellan; his sister-in-law, Alice McClellan; and Garry Watson.
Services will be held on Friday, November 17 at 2:30 pm at Elm Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum, North Chapel, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, Indiana with Pastor Tony Collins officiating.
Visitation will be at Elm Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum from 1:30 until the time of the service at 2:30 p.m.
Military honors will be provided by the Delaware County Honor Guard.
Entombment will immediately follow the service at Elm Ridge Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the donor's choice.
On-line condolences may be sent to the family at: elmridgefuneralhome.com