Claire McKay Stewart Jr.

      On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 Claire McKay Stewart, Jr. passed away peacefully at Dublin Assisted Living and Memory Support in Dublin, Ohio.  He was 94.

      Claire was born on June 4, 1926 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to the Reverend Dr. Claire McKay Stewart, Sr. and Harriet E. (Carkhuff) Stewart. He had one brother, James Walter, who died in 1947 at the age of 28. His childhood was full, with many Church and Boy Scout activities. Claire's love and appreciation of automobiles and all things mechanical was nurtured by his father, and he spent many happy hours with his Dad washing, waxing and detailing the cars they both obviously loved.

     Claire served in the United States Navy from October 27th, 1944 at the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Litchfield Park, Arizona until being Honorably Discharged on July 2nd, 1946.

     After being discharged, he attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, graduating in June, 1950. He was a founding member of the Delta Tau Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in Bowling Green, Ohio. While at Bowling Green, he met his future wife, Kathryn Blanche Hulse. They were married on March 3, 1951 at the Chapel of Friendly Bells in Youngstown, Ohio by his father, the Reverend Dr. Claire McKay Stewart Sr.

    Claire began serving in the Officers' Reserve Corps, Army of the United States on May 30, 1950. He was called from inactive to active duty to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army on July 8, 1951 and served on active duty until March 14, 1953, when he returned to inactive duty. He completed his term of service with ROTC and received an Honorable Discharge on May 29th, 1955.  

    Claire and Kathy welcomed their first son, Claire McKay Stewart, Ill on February 9, 1953 while he was stationed at Fort Rucker Alabama. On February 28, 1956, Claire and Kathy were blessed with the birth of a second child, a daughter, Sara Kathryn Stewart. On September 30, 1958, Claire and Kathy were happy to announce the arrival of a second son, James Edgar Stewart.

    Claire's family was at all times his primary focus. He was a devoted husband and father, and Claire and Kathy were a couple whose love for one another and strong ties to their families lasted throughout their many years together. They were always surrounded by friends and family, as their lighthearted and adventurous outlook on life served to attract a wide circle of friends. Throughout their many moves during their married years, they kept in touch with all of them.

    Claire passed his love of cars to his two sons, and they spent hours with him caring for the family vehicles, much as Claire had with his father. As expected, the boys took the brunt of his anger whenever they damaged one of his cars, while Sara always managed to escape unscathed.

    Claire worked in various aspects of quality control for General Electric in Louisville, Kentucky, and in numerous management capacities for Reliance Electric in Columbus and Madison, Indiana and Toledo Scale in Columbus, Ohio and Spartanburg, South Carolina.

    Upon retiring in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and he and Kathy began many happy years of traveling in their Avion trailer. One of his greatest joys was the time he was able to spend with his grandchildren over their summer vacations, taking them along on group Rendezvous' and Travelcades, crossing the country for many splendid adventures. He was, above all, a kind, gentle and patient man, and will be remembered for those traits by his family and his many friends and acquaintances.

    A private funeral service will be held on November 9, 2020 at ROYAL-COLEMAN FUNERAL HOME, 6028 U.S Highway 6, Linesville, PA at 11:00 A.M., with a burial following in Linesville Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to https://falconfunded.bgsu.edu/project/19580/donate, the Brian V. Sokol Entrepreneurship Scholarship in memory of Claire Stewart.

    Claire was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Blanche (Hulse) Stewart and his daughter Sara Kathryn Stewart Votroubek. He is survived by his two sons, Claire III (Patti) Stewart and James (Gerilyn) Stewart; grandchildren Brent (Carissa) Votroubek, Spencer (Melissa) Votroubek, Kara and Blake Stewart; great grandchildren Calvin, Karra, Kaydence and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Please share a condolence or memory of Claire at royalcolemanfuneralhome.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Claire McKay Stewart Jr., please visit our floral store.