Clarence Mcbride

Clarence Earl McBride, age 93, of Caney, Kansas died Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Guest Home Estates in Caney, Kansas. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 8, 2008 at the First Christian Church with the Reverend Brad Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunnyside Cemetery under the direction of the Potts Chapel. Visitation hours will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, December 7, 2008 with the family receiving friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the Guest Home Estates or the First Christian Church in Caney, Kansas and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. Clarence Earl McBride was born October 31, 1915 in Independence, Kansas to Andrew Clarence and Bessie Lee Barnett McBride. Earl started school in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and moved to Caney, Kansas at the age of 10. He attended Caney schools and graduated from Caney High School in 1934. Earl then attended Coffeyville Junior College and graduated in 1936. He worked for McBride Bros, Drilling contractor. In June of 1941 Earl entered the United States Army he completed OCS signal Corp in 1942. He served overseas at 1st Lieutenant in the South Pacific Area in heavy construction of the 58th Signal Battalion. Earl was honorable discharged from active service in June 1946 as Captain. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Service Medal and World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 bronze star. Earl joined the Army Reserve in 1946 and was commanding officer of the Coffeyville Army Reserve as Captain until 1956. On October 25, 1947 Earl married Willetta Vernona Rhodus in Dewey, Oklahoma, they made their home in Caney, Kansas. Earl was an employee of the Phillips Petroleum Company as a map draftsman from 1946 until his retirement in 1978. He was a member of the Caney Christian Church and the American Legion Post 138 in Caney, Kansas. Survivors include two sons Andrew Dale McBride and wife Sherri of Caney, Kansas and Richard McBride and wife Sandra of Caney, Kansas; four grandsons Shawn, Ryan and Jason McBride and Todd Gritzmaker; four great grandsons Dakotah McBride, Hunter Gritzmaker, Max McBride and John Hill; five great granddaughters Kristal Gritzmaker, Hannah Gritzmaker, Cheyenne Hill, Sayde McBride and Claire McBride. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Maxine Blackledge.