John Russell "Jack" Mcclain Jr.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of John Russell "Jack" McClain Jr. will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday October 22, 2023, at Centenary United Methodist  Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023.

John Russell "Jack" McClain, Jr., 102, died at home on September 24, 2023.  He was born May 25, 1921 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the only son of John Russell McClain, Sr. and Ada Kattiew McClain. He was educated in schools in Sharon, PA graduating from Sharon High School in the class of 1939. He spent the summers in Sodus, NY with his grandparents, Levi and Jennie Kattiew who spoke Dutch. After high school he enrolled in Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA and then Carnegie Tech (Carnegie-Mellon University), Pittsburgh, PA studying engineering, following the footsteps of his father who was an electrical engineer. His education was interrupted when he was called to service in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy, receiving radar training in the Great Lakes Training Center. He taught at Bliss College and served in Mississippi and Texas where he courted his first wife, Fyrne Morrison. He and Fyrne celebrated 23 years of marriage before her death in 1973.

His work career included positions with Owens-Corning Technical Center, Granville; Holophane, Newark; AT & T, Columbus and Newark Airforce Station, Heath, retiring in 1973.

Jack was very active in his local community, particularly with Centenary United Methodist Church, Granville, where he was a volunteer Meals-On-Wheels driver, Marimba and bass player and junior high school Sunday school teacher for 7 years.

On December 16, 1975, Jack and Jeanne Taylor Gordon were married at Centenary Methodist Church following the church service. They were married 45 years until her death in January, 2021.  Jeanne supported Jack as he developed a passion for long-distance running and bicycling. They made many good friends as Jack participated in Run for Life at Denison, Great Ohio Bike Adventure, Tour of the Scioto River Valley, 49 marathons, 4 triathlons and two cross-country bicycle trips. He ran in three international marathons in Calais, France; Van Ruy, The Netherlands and Rimini, Italy. He was named Athlete of the Year while competing in Rimini, Italy in 2001. The large ceramic trophy made the trip in Jack’s backpack and arrived home intact. He and Jeanne were delayed in returning home from Italy because of flight moratoriums due to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Jack ran his last marathon in Columbus at age 90 in the company of members of his family and long-time friend, Dave Kintner. At that time Jack was one of only six over 90 years old who had completed a certified marathon.  Even after he no longer ran, he walked every day with friends.

Jack enjoyed clock-making and woodworking and many of his friends were recipients of his handiwork. Jack, always the optimist, at age 90 planted a grape arbor that would take a number of years to reach maturity.

Jack and Jeanne also enjoyed spending time in Dunedin, Florida where they made many friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Fyrne, his second wife, Jeanne, and his stepson, Jerry Gordon.  Survivors include his son, Craig (Marion) McClain of Louisville, Kentucky; grandson, John D. (Abbey) McClain of Columbus, 2 great granddaughters; stepdaughter, Nancy (Larry) Rayment of Piney Flats, TN; step-daughter-in-law Teresa Gordon, of Johnstown; two great-granddaughters, 6 step-grandchildren and 11 step-great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church.

Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory about Jack or to leave a message of condolence for the family.  McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Jack and his family.