Obituary of William G. McLean

William G. McLean was born on June 27, 1925 in Scotland County, North Carolina to his parents, Aura and Henry McLean. He died peacefully Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Ocala, Florida. One of five children, he began working at an early age during the Great Depression. He graduated from Maxton High School, in Maxton, North Carolina. He was then accepted into the V-12 Naval Officer Program through which he attended The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Columbia University in New York City. He was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy. He served in World War II as captain of the USNS Bullwheel, and in the Korean War as captain of the USS Quapaw, both in the Pacific Ocean. After the wars, he and his wife, Kathryn, moved back to North Carolina where both of their children, Billy and Johnny, were born. In 1956, he and his family moved to Ocala where he remained until his death. His first job in Ocala was assistant finance officer for the City of Ocala. He then worked as general manager of the Ocala Star Banner. In 1967, he became employed by the Marion County School Board, from which he retired as Director of Finance. He served as a member of the Marion County School Board from 1991 to 1995. Most of all he loved Kathryn and their family. Bill and Kat were married for 62 years. He had a long retirement that he spent devoted to making Kathryn feel safe and secure. He was straight-forward, kind-hearted and generous. He had many friends who will miss him. His family will miss him forever. He was a faithful member of Fort King Presbyterian Church when he died. He was previously a member of Carolina Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Ocala. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathryn; his two sons, Billy and his wife Martie, and Johnny and his wife Kerri; three grandchildren, Will McLean, Ollie McLean and Dillon McLean, all of whom he loved dearly; three sisters, Sally Ann Chirdon, Lula McRae and Mary Poole; thirteen nieces and nephews, Sue Ann Clarke, Jaynette Whitt, Henry Chirdon, Jimmy McLean, Susan Carpenter, Mary Lou Beeker, Nancy McBride, Jay Poole, Jeff Poole, Jerry Poole, Joey Poole, Jim Poole and Jack McInnis; and his caregivers, Pat Bartow and Renee Deifendeifer. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother James P. McLean, two nephews, Wilber McRae and Clayton (Buddy) Chirdon, and a niece, Peggy Martin. A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 3:00 PM at Fort King Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall. Mr. McLean will be buried at the Carolina Presbyterian Church Cemetary located in the Carolina Community, South Carolina. Arrangements are under the care of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services in Ocala and Cooper Funeral Home in Dillon, South Carolina. Flowers or a donation to Fort King Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers are appreciated.