Cloar, Clyde Ross

Clyde Ross Cloar, Lt. Colonel USAF, (Retired)
February 15, 1928 – April 20, 2016

Lt. Col. Clyde Ross Cloar (Ret., USAF), 88, of Mount Pleasant, SC., died April 20, 2016.

His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 in Rodenberg Chapel, Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant at 11:30 am and conducted by The Rev. Frederick Baldwin. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends in the Narthex at Rodenberg Chapel from 10:30 until time of the service. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.

Born in San Bernardino, California February 15, 1928, he was the only child of Lee Webster Cloar and Grace Ross Cloar.

Commissioned into the US Air Force upon graduation from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1950, he married Mary Lou Vollmer of Norfolk, Virginia the following day in a “crossed sabers” ceremony at the Academy Chapel. A pilot, Clyde flew B-29s for 10 combat missions in Korea, C-47s for most of his career, and the H-1 and H-3 helicopters during 100 combat missions in Vietnam. He was heavily decorated: 3 times with the Distinguished Flying Cross, 6 times with the Air Medal, and with the Bronze Star, among others. He taught Air Force ROTC at Pennsylvania State University and at the Virginia Military Institute. Military assignments took the Cloar’s to Guam, England, and across the US to South Carolina, where Clyde retired in 1973.

After completing a Master’s degree at The Citadel in School Administration, Clyde taught at Trident Tech for a decade and retired again.

Early residents of Franke at Seaside, Clyde and Mary Lou moved to a villa there in 2003, enjoying an active lifestyle until her death in 2005. He subsequently met and married Virginia Ross Busche of Franke in 2007.

Once an avid participant in Franke Chapel services, Clyde was known by many as a Greeter. Others will recall his light-hearted poems, published in “Clyde’s Corner” of the Franke newsletter as long as his sight permitted. He was also known for his quick wit and sense of humor. Others in Seaside Farms knew him as the “Dog Whistler.” For a 10-year period, he could be seen early in the morning on his adult 3-wheeler, greeting dogs and their owners by name. Each of “Clyde’s dogs” received a scratch behind the ears and a treat from his pocket, and a good day was judged by the number of dogs he saw on his route.

Clyde is survived by his loving wife, Virginia and two devoted daughters, Lila Cloar and Lisa Sutton (David), and two very spoiled granddogs, all of Mount Pleasant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charleston Animal Society at www.charlestonanimalsociety.org or 2455 Remount Rd., N Charleston, SC 29406.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ Charleston

~ GUEST BOOK ~

April 23, 2016
Sorry for your loss. May the GOD of all comfort be with the family at this time of sorrow.

S. Washington

April 23, 2016
Dear Lila and Lisa – So sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing. Terry and I recall when we first met you Lila how proud you were of your Dad’s Air Force service. He’s now in the “wild blue yonder.” Our thoughts and prayers are with you both and the rest of your family. Lt Col Cathy McGinn, USAF (Retired) & Lt Col Terry Peterson, USAF (Retired)

Cathy McGinn, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

April 22, 2016
Lila and Lisa – We are so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing! We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time! Treasure the good times in your heart, and may this help ease the pain! We all hope that we can get together very soon! Much love to y’all! The George Coleman Family and the Peter McCoy Family

Lucy McCoy, Hartsville, South Carolina

Integrity, Honor, and Respect
Some of the best things cannot be bought, they must be earned

©2023 USAF Rotorheads   All Rights Reserved   |   Financial Statement