Gilford, NH-John Ralph McClung, 97 of 271 Belknap Mountain Road, died at his home on Thursday morning, October 20, 2005. Born in Cornstalk, West Virginia on June 6, 1908 he was the son of the late Richard E. and Nellie (Ward) McClung. He was raised and schooled in Cleveland North Dakota and attended Jamestown College. He had been a resident of Gilford for the past 2-½ years, coming from Yucaipa, California.
Prior to his retirement in 1968, John worked for the U. S. Department of Agriculture, as the North Dakota State Director for the Farmers Home Administration. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Agriculture. John was also a consultant to the Nigerian Government in 1962.
After John retired he and his family moved to California. An avid golfer, he briefly managed the Hesperia Country Club in Hesperia, CA. John had 9 hole-in-ones during his golfing days, and was recognized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not for 3 hole-in-ones on the same hole in the same year. To put himself through college, John was an exhibition boxer at many North Dakota rural fairs; known as, “Big Fist” McClung. He was also a pitcher in the Minor Leagues for Kansas City. In his younger years he taught school in the same one-room schoolhouse where he received his own education. In retirement, until age 95 John also bowled three times a week.
John was a life member of the Presbyterian Church and the Elks Club.
He was predeceased by his wife Ruth (Eberhard) McClung in 1995.
John is survived by two sons, Charles R. McClung of Reseda, CA, and David M. McClung PhD of Vancouver, B.C., two daughters, Jane A. McClung PhD of Concord, NH, and Ellen McClung-Cracraft of Gilford, NH, and two grandsons, Brian McClung of Vancouver, B.C. and Jonas Steinberg of Minneapolis, MN
Services and interment will be at a later date in Cleveland, North Dakota.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in John’s name be made to the local Hospice in your area, or to the National Resource Defense Council, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011, or visit www.nrdc.org