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Frank E. Van Cleve Waynesburg, PA QCWA # 29121 |
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Frank E. Van Cleve, 82, of Waynesburg, died at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2017, in his cabin in Delphine. After a long and valiant battle against death, he succumbed. He had been ill from October 2016 to January of this year. He was born Friday, July 6, 1934, in Waynesburg, a son of the late John Edward Van Cleve and Helena Beatrice Landrum Van Cleve.
Mr. Van Cleve was considered a graduate of Waynesburg High School Class of 1952 and attended Oklahoma A and M in Stillwater, Okla.
He was a former member of Experimental Aviation Association and numerous antique engine clubs. Mr. Van Cleve was a member of Amateur Radio Club, Waynesburg Ham Radio Club and Washington Ham Radio Club. He was also a member of Mon Valley Sports Car Club and Waynesburg Auto Cross. He was a former member of Waynesburg Elk's Lodge 757 and Waynesburg Moose Lodge 461. He was the president of the family corporation, Elms Brothers and Company Ltd. of Waynesburg.
He was a retired fireman with Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Co. He was a veteran, having served from 1953 to 1959 with the US Navy, where he served as a Navy pilot. He served on the board of directors for Pennsylvania Independent Petroleum Producers. He served on Waynesburg Borough Council, Waynesburg Zoning Board and Bowlby Library Board.
He was also a licensed private detective. Mr. Van Cleve flew into Oshkosh, Wis. and exhibited and flew in airshows in Indiana and the Tri State Area. He restored and exhibited hot air, solar, gasoline, "hit and miss" and steam engines in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oklahoma, Indiana, Florida, the Tri State Area and in London, England.
After his service in the Navy, he worked as an Air Traffic Controller in Hawaii. He then worked as a commercial pilot for United Airlines, Mohawk Airlines, Allegheny Airlines and U.S. Air. His name is on the Wall of Honor at Dulles Air Museum.
He then drove a school bus, worked for Waynesburg Electric and was a newspaper columnist for the Greene County Messenger, where he was only known as Wingnut.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lucille Eddy Van Cleve, whom he married October 27, 1956. Also surviving are a daughter, Rina (Glenn) Reed of Baltimore, Md.; a son, Frank (Joy) Van Cleve II of Washington; seven grandchildren, Sarah (Frank) Bearoff, Catherine (Jason) Ealy, Kendal Reed, Ryan Reed, Kayla Huffman, Justin Huffman and Krista Huffman; great-grandson Leroy Ealy; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, January 20, with the Rev. William Parker officiating.
Burial will be in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township, Greene County.
A visitation will be held by Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Department at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 19, in the funeral home. Graveside military rites will be accorded by James Farrell American Legion Post 330 and representatives of the US Navy.