James N. McCloud's Obituary
James N. McCloud 1923 - 2017
James Newman “Jim” McCloud, 93, of Proctorville, Ohio passed away at dawn on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at VA Medical Center, Huntington, WV following a brief illness. He was born August 13, 1923 in West Virginia, the son of the late James Emory and Carrie Skaggs McCloud. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Mary Eleanor Philibin McCloud who passed away three months ago; three brothers, George McCloud, Robert B. McCloud and Bennie McCloud; and one sister Delora Ruth Robertson. He is survived by his son James E. McCloud; his daughter Linda M. Huffman and his son-in-law Attorney Alan J. Matavich, all of East Bend, NC. Jim was employed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad for 42 years where he served as clerk, teletype operator and computer tracker of communications and trains. He was a farmer, a beekeeper, a Veteran of World War II, a past commander of the V.F.W. Howard P. Hall Post 1064 and a member/Captain of the Rome Volunteer Fire Department from 1962 to present. He was an avid gardner and delighted in producing pesticide free fruit and vegetables which he donated to the members of St. Ann Catholic Church where he was a member. Bee keeping was his hobby and he was a member of the Lawrence County Beekeepers Association. He processed organic honey and sold it to provide money for the Rome Volunteer Fire Department building fund. Following high school at Vinson in Westmoreland, WV, Jim enlisted in the WV Army National Guard and was assigned to the 150th Infantry Attachment and was later transferred to the regular U.S. Army. He had duty assignments at Fort Knox, Ft. Lenard Wood, Pearl Harbor and Schofield Barracks in Hawaii; the Philippines, Camp Reynolds and Camp Pickett in Pennsylvania. He was trained to be an Army Cook and fed some 200 troops, three meals a day until he was wounded in 1943. He was awarded a medal of commendation for service in the Asiatic Theatre; received the good conduct medal and was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945. Jim was a member of the V.F.W. Post 1064 in Huntington for 60 years where he was elected to Post Commander for four consecutive terms. He was devoted to his role there and after serving in numerous leadership positions he became Post Chaplain and Honor guard member. In later years he regularly volunteered at the VA Medical Center and the Barboursville Soldiers Home. He was a U.S. Representative of the Military Order of the Cootie for more than 30 years where he was part of the Supreme Clown Patrol, a group dedicated to visiting sick and injured veterans “to keep them smiling in beds of white.” He was a member of the DAV and served as the State of WV Veterans Hospital System Chaplain. Jim was one of the founding members of the Rome Volunteer Fire Department and in 1968 accomplished his mission to incorporate this organization by hand carrying signatures and documents to the Ohio State Capital in Columbus to register its charter with the State Fire Fighting commissions. With his own money he helped fund the purchase of the first fire truck and built the first building on Route 7 in Rome Township. Further he helped organize and support National Fire Prevention Programs in Lawrence County, Ohio and Huntington, WV. He believed that fire safety started with children and he was an energetic teacher. He helped establish the Fairland High School program of fire awareness and crowned the annual Fire Queen at Homecoming, buying the flowers, crowns and sashes for many years. He was one of two founders of the Lawrence County Professional Fire School. Throughout his life he was a hard worker, an organized multitasker and a most selfless and generous man. He often stopped at his home and ask his wife to collect food, household goods, and money to give to families who had lost their homes to fire. He demanded much of himself and those he taught. He mentored many young firemen and veterans during his long life. A rosary service will be conducted 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2017 at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio with visitation following from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2017. Christian Burial and Holy Mass will be celebrated at St. Ann Catholic Church in Chesapeake, Ohio on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. by Rev. Father Charles Moran. Burial will be on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 12 noon in the WV National Cemetery in Grafton, WV. The tradition of honorable burial for a fallen firefighter will be conducted by his beloved Rome Volunteer Fire Department’s members and officers beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017 at the funeral home. A procession will be assembled to escort Jim’s body to St. Ann Catholic Church and then return to the funeral home after the funeral mass. Family and friends will escort Jim to his final resting place at the National Cemetery leaving Hall Funeral Home at 8 a.m. Tuesday. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Rome Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 966 Proctorville, Ohio 45669. His family wishes to express sincere appreciation to his neighbors and firefighters who were his friends and helpers, especially John Harber, Jason and Jack Parks, Mike Boster, Tim Sullivan, Joe Barnett, Duane Bench, Russell Boster and Phil Hardy. In addition it is important to extend thanks and appreciation to the St. Mary’s Emergency Medical Department, St. Mary’s Social Workers and Dr. King who gave Jim such excellent care. Dr. Sandra Joseph, the nursing and medical staffs at VA Medical Center, and their caring social workers, also gave him the most respectful, comprehensive and compassionate medical care, attending to his every need at the end of his life. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall or ehallfuneralhome.com.
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