John C. McClelland

John C. McClelland, beloved husband of the late Sandra (née Kelly) McClelland.  He was the loving father of Robert McClelland (Faith), Nancy Nicoletti (John), and Lisa Hoppes (James), and a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren: Robert Jr (Alex), Grace, Caleb, and Joshua (Naomi) McClelland; Alexander, Sarah, and Joseph Nicoletti; Adah and Matilda Hoppes, and two great-granddaughters Clare and Luchia McClelland.

 

John grew up in Wyndmoor, PA and was one of seven children of Thomas and Bessie McClelland.  His father Thomas was the chauffeur and gardener for the grand-nephew of the famous Edgar Allan Poe. He worked at the estate known as “The Poe Estate” on Montgomery Avenue.  The McClelland name became widely known in the area because of the association with the Poes.

 

After graduating high school, John joined the Marines in October 1956 and was stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  He was assigned to the motor pool and learned how to repair jeeps and he also chauffeured the officers as needed.  His mechanical skills proved to be valuable in future years but the biggest change in John’s life that occurred during his service was meeting his wife Sandy.  John’s oldest brother Tom worked with Sandy at Sun Oil and made the introductions.  They were married in September 1959.

 

After leaving the service, John purchased an auto repair shop in Roslyn, PA.  He later sold and moved into a larger station in Flourtown, PA in the early 1970s.    McClelland’s Auto Repair on Bethlehem Pike was in business until John retired in 2002.  In his retirement he continued to work on his rental properties and even built a new residential home.  He was not one to remain idle.

 

John loved his family and getting together with everyone.  He was very generous to his children and grandchildren.  He treated them to numerous vacations in Florida, California, Arizona, and the beloved Jersey Shore.  John and his wife had a vacation home at Lake Wallenpaupack where they spent their weekends boating, swimming, snowmobiling, having cookouts, and partying with their neighbors.  Their vacation home was John’s “happy place”.  He loved tinkering around the house and working in the yard.  His idea of relaxation was raking leaves or painting the deck.

 

John and Sandy traveled extensively.  They visited Ireland, England, France, several Caribbean islands, and multiple states in the US including Alaska.  Boating through the locks in the Rideau Canal in Canada was a very memorable trip for them.  Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay was also a favorite of John’s trips with his boat.

 

John was an excellent role model to his children and grandchildren.  He taught them what it meant to work hard so they could achieve their dreams.  His legacy will live on in his family and he will be sorely missed.

 

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation Saturday, 4/25, 9–10 AM at Oreland Ev. Presbyterian Church, 1119 Church Rd., Oreland, PA. Funeral service at 10 AM. Interment at George Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).