G. Lowell Mcclelland

G. Lowell McClelland, 88 G. Lowell McClelland, 88, a longtime Rockford resident and former resident of Springfield passed away surrounded by his loving family in the special care of Somerford Place, Hagerstown, Maryland just past midnight on Wednesday, October, 8, 2008. He was eased to heaven over his last years while being comforted and beautifully cared for by his loving daughter, Susan; compassionate son-in-law Bart, extended family and extraordinary caregivers of Somerford Place Dementia Care. Lowell ascended to be with God after a brave and courageous two year battle with Vascular Cerebral Multi-Infarct Dementia caused by natural aging. Lowell was born October 30, 1919, the beloved son of Charles ""Wesley"" McClelland and Delilah (Smurr) Mc Clelland in Springfield, IL. Lowell was their only son and younger brother to Allene McClelland Johnson. He especially loved his growing up years on the McClelland Home Place Farm along West Lake Drive near Lake Springfield. This beautiful 100 year 250+acre farm gave him his sense of integrity, work ethic, his love of nature, and his ability to ""fix"" most things. Lowell attended one room Hazel Dell School, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1937, followed up with college years at Mac Murray College, Jacksonville. Life forever changed for Lowell when during an A Cappella class at Springfield High a gorgeous ""older"" young woman with a dry throat was offered to share a piece of his gum pack. Lowell had walked to a near-by drug store to come to her aid. That lady was Juanita Childers McClelland and their love affair wonderfully endured more than 68 years together and peaked with their final wedding anniversary on May 10, 2005 just five days prior to Juanitas death. They were blessed with their first daughter, Susan Kay and again with another daughter, Nancy Jo. Lowells life totally centered around his wife, their children, their grandchildren and two great-grand-daughters and Illinois Bell Telephone Company. ""Mac"" as he was known at Illinois Bell was employed beginning in 1941 and worked for IBT for over 45 years, leaving only once to serve his country during the later years of World War II, as a Fireman Third Class aboard the Navy Destroyer, U.S.S. Schroeder. Around Rockford, ""Mac"" was instrumental in the Engineering Design of most of the large corporate switchboards handling millions of calls through Bell Laboratorys then cutting edge equipment. He was active always with Illinois Bell Pioneers of America, a lifetime member while serving as the chapter President. Lowell devoted hours and hours designing aides for handicapable challenged children. He won the Highest Pioneer Vail Service Award for his design and creation of the ""Beeper Ball"" , the Association Board, Stop Lites, and the Ear Bears. All Telephone Pioneers supported and produced aides for sight and hearing challenged children. Lowell was also instrumental in the acquisition and installation of the full-functioning antique Switchboard on display at Midway Village. He also supported the telephone connections in old time village area. He loved to show us all the how-tos and the inner workings of things. Dad would love to be in work overalls for raking of leaves, cleaning out the gutters, and ""changing the oil"" , and just general puttering. His work shop was full of interesting tools and devices and he was never too busy to share the time to teach us all. A wonderfully shared purposeful gift as he taught us all the how-to to ""fix"" things. A lifelong member of Court Street United Methodist Church for over half a century and most recently he loved attending Heartland Community Church with Susan when in Rockford. He truly embraced this evangelical church. Lowells life has enriched the lives of all those blessed to have met him and he would surely be blushing at the life lists written here. We will sorely miss his beautiful snappy blue eyes as they would always twinkle with a boy-like mischievousness and many a r