Joseph “Joe” McClain, age 95 of Salem, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at his home.
Born August 20, 1930, in Bristol PA to parents Joseph E. McClain and Doris G. (Tomlinson) McClain. He graduated from Bristol High School and was married to Shirley Mount and later divorced. On May 30, 1978, he married Patricia Whitney Henson, and she survives in Salem. In addition to his wife, Joseph is survived by 5 children and 2 stepchildren: Steven McClain (Sharon) of Bristol PA; James McClain (Michelle) of Longview TX, and Richard McClain (Ree) of Levittown PA; Sharon Barton of Tabernacle NJ; Sheri Wheeler (Tommy) of Hulmeville PA; Brian Henson (Shelly) of Salem IL and Kristi Malan (Tony) of Weldon Spring MO. Also surviving are 20 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren. He also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Dolores Middleswarth.
Joe entered the US Army on February 15, 1951, in Fort Mead MD and took his Basic Training, as well as Leadership School, in Fort Jackson SC. He left from Camp Kilmer NJ and was stationed outside Frankfurt, Germany in a town called Friedburg where he was based for a year and a half. Joe served in the US Army in the rank of Corporal, during the Korean War, the 4th Infantry Div, 29th Field Artillery Battalion. He returned to Camp Kilmer in the States in January 1954, where he was honorably discharged. In Joe’s words, “I was very proud to serve my country as a soldier and would do it all over again!”
He was employed by Simonds Abrasive Company in Philadelphia and was transferred to Salem in 1972. He continued with the abrasive company through many take-overs and retired from what was then called Radiac Abrasives, Inc. on September 1, 2001, after having been employed in several supervisory positions, for 50+ years.
Joe remained very active during his retirement years. He and his wife, Pat, enjoyed camping with family and friends, and enjoyed attending and participating in local opries. Joe enjoyed woodworking and detailing cars, and he took a lot of pride in keeping his yard looking immaculate. Joe was a very patriotic man, and he was a history enthusiast, reading everything he could about the wars in which our country was involved, and he could listen all day to veterans of our wars who were filled with first-hand knowledge of serving our country. He also had an avid interest in airplanes, especially those of the WWII era.
Joe was a member of Evergreen Christian Church. He also was a member of the Salem IL Post of the American Legion and was a member of the VFW out of Centralia.
Funeral services for Joseph “Joe” McClain will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem with Shannon Bopp officiating. Burial will follow at Phillips Cemetery in Omega with military rites by the Salem American Legion. There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Evergreen Christian Church Building Fund or the Salem Animal Shelter and will be received at the funeral home. Online condolences and memories can be left at www.CrouseFH.com.