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Clyde went home to be with the Lord early Sunday morning, July 18, 2004. He was the second of six children born in the Claude and Eula McDonald family. Clyde was born January 13, 1930 near Durant, Oklahoma. He came to California with his mom, brother and three sisters in 1944 and first settled in the Arvin area at the Weedpatch Camp for migrants. He finished 8th grade at Sunset School. In August, 1945, he enrolled in the Kern County Union High School but was taken out of school the following January at age 16, and given a work permit to help with the support of his siblings. This he did while working at the DiGiorgio Farms. He went to school on Saturdays. Clyde continued with farm work until March, 1951, when his "friends" and neighbors" also known as our local Draft Board, asked that he become a part of the U.S. Army in defending our country from communist aggression, which, incidentally was occurring in South Korea. At first, Clyde was apprehensive, as were many of his draft age friends, but when he learned that President Truman referred to the conflict as a "Police Action," he knew his participating would be a walk in the park. Clyde served with honor and distinction, first with an evacuation hospital in Pusan, Korea, then he volunteered to serve on the front line as a Medic with a rifle company that was a part of the 45th Infantry Division also known domestically as the Oklahoma National Guard. Their motto: "These colors don't run." When Clyde and his buddies were not trying to stay warm and dry in the cold rain and snow, they were trying to get some nourishment from C-rations that they heated with a small fire built in their helmets. Clyde's participating in midnight recon patrols into no man's land, and other offensive and defensive action earned him the "Combat Medic Badge," one of several awards designed for "grunts." Other awards: Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze Service Stars, the U.N. Service Medal with 2 Overseas Bars. In 2001 the South Korean Government awarded Clyde the "Korean War Service Medal;" on the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the only medal issued by a foreign government that Korea Veterans are permitted to wear. Clyde was always proud of his serving his country. He continued to maintain his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In 1953, after Clyde was honorably discharged from the Army, he enrolled at Bakersfield College where he completed his basic education. In 1955, Clyde went to work for the Bank of America at 19th and Chester where he worked until 1966 when he was promoted and transferred to Los Angeles Main Office at 6th and Spring Streets. Prior to his transfer to Los Angeles, Clyde was an active member of the Kern Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters International and President of Kern 20-30 Club. In 1967, Clyde was transferred to the Bank of America Stockton District Trust Office where he worked for about a year before again being transferred to Modesto. Here Clyde was active in numerous civic and charitable organizations. In 1971, he was President of the Stanislaus County Estate Planning Council and in 1975, served as President of the Modesto Kiwanis Club. In 1979, Clyde was once again promoted and transferred to the Bakersfield Main Office of Bank of America on Truxtun Avenue. In 1982, Clyde was transferred to the Fresno District Trust Office.
In December 1985, Clyde had the opportunity to take early retirement after having had the most enjoyable privilege of working with some beautiful co-workers for 30 years. Clyde really admired his several office managers and supervisors for encouraging him to pursue his post graduate studies and was particularly thankful that they paid virtually all of his expenses including that related to advanced studies at Northwestern University at Evanston, IL. After retiring, Clyde and Erma enjoyed travel and site-seeing. In their RV, they toured most of the lower 48 states and Canada. One of their most memorable and enjoyable side trips involved their participating in RAGBRAI XXIV in 1996, a seven day, 437 mile bike ride across Iowa with approximately 12,000 other riders sponsored by the Des Moines Register. Other trips included Hawaii and traveling abroad to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Egypt and Jordan. On their first trip to the Holy Land, Clyde and Erma were baptized in the Jordan River by Pastor John Sherley. For the remainder of that tour, Pastor John was affectionately referred to as "John, the Baptist." In Egypt many in the group hiked up Mt. Sinai where Moses stayed for 40 days. In jordan they toured Petra, Amman, Jerrash, Madba and Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked over into the Promised Land.
Survivors include his loving wife, Erma of 40 years; son, Baron and his wife, Rhonda; daughter, Pamela; and son, Shawn; brothers, Jerry and Bill; sisters, Madaline Newton and Marie Ford; grandchildren, Matthew, Kaeli and Shanda McDonald and on great grandson. Survivors also include numerous loving nephews and nieces, and many friends and relatives. Clydes's Dad and Mom and sister, Pauline, preceded him in death, as did his nephew, Raymond Lowell McDonald and nieces, Carolyn Wesley, Linda Myren, and Rebecca Ford.
The family would like to thank Dr. Abhay W. Risbud for his caring and thoughtful demeanor during Clyde's illness. We would also like to express our appreciation to Hoffman Hospice staff, family and friends for their loving acts of kindness towards Clyde.
Services will be held for Clyde at Valley Baptist Church, Thursday, July 22, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Clyde prefers donations be made in his memory to Valley Baptist Building Fund, 4800 Fruitvale Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93308
Davis Rose Funeral Home
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