Michael Lynn McClung, 72, of Ronceverte, West Virginia, died July 18, 2019.
Mike was born on January 3, 1947, the son of William Wilson and Leora Belle Spinks McClung.
He was married to Karen Lee Coleman McClung in 1968.
He is preceded in death by his brother, William Kent McClung.
He was born in Ronceverte and grew up on Merry Hill Farm, where his father was the farm manager. The McClung family were among the Greenbrier Valley's first settlers, and the family still owned and ran beef cattle on the ancestral farm in Williamsburg that was established in 1785. Mike’'s relationship with the farm, and his family was important to him throughout his life.
Mike attended Lewisburg public schools and entered the Greenbrier Military School in his junior year, where he graduated in 1964 with honors for marksmanship. Mike then enrolled at West Virginia Tech in Montgomery, WV, where he graduated a year ahead of schedule with joint degrees in mathematics, physics and nuclear engineering.
After school, Mike enrolled in General Electric's management program in Cincinnati, Ohio. He worked for General Electric through the Vietnam War where he led the production of jet engines for the military. Later, he oversaw the production of submarine engine systems and other advanced technologies for the military. In 1976, Mike accepted a position with Colt Industries in Beloit, Wisconsin as Superintendent of Large Engines Operation, producing back-up power for nuclear facilities, large engines for the maritime shipping industry, as well as hospital and city emergency power generation systems. Mike returned to Lewisburg in 1977 to become plant manager and Vice President of Appalachian Electronic Instruments in Ronceverte, later in Fairlea.
Aside from his technical education and career, Mike was an outdoorsmen and a farmer in his heart. He loved hunting, fishing, and most of all farming. He took a lot of pride in the family farm, where he ran a top quality herd of angus beef cattle. His appreciation of history was evident in his enjoyment of antiques and collectible cars.
Mike served on the Lewisburg City Council for 16 years, and also on the Greenbrier Public Service Commission. He served on the board of the Gateway Industries Sheltered Workshop in Ronceverte. He was a longstanding member of the Elks, and a past president of both the Richlands Ruritans and the Meadow Mountain Hunt Club. He was proud to be a Son of the American Revolution.
As a lifelong member of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Mike served as both deacon and elder. He also served on the property committee overseeing the first renovations for the education building.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Lee; two sons, and five grandchildren. His younger son, Kevin Howard has raised two fine young men, Kyle Hunter and William Wilson Cody. His older son, Michael Oliver and his wife, Katya Kopaskie have three wonderful children, William Owen, Kelsey Lynn and Caroline Nan.
Donations in Mike's memory should be made to the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, The Greenbrier Historical Society, Peyton Hospice House or the Greenbrier Humane Society. He loved flowers, as his mother did.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Old Stone Presbyterian Church with Pastor Anna Pinkney Straight officiating. Burial will follow at the Rosewood Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, July 26, 2019 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg.
