Tribute to Thomas McClave
Tom McClave was born on February 27, 1917, in Moosic, PA. he had an older brother and a younger sister. He served in the U.S.Army during World War II, earning 2 bronze metals for his faithful and heroic service to our country.
He married Ida Collins Lawrence and had 2 sons - Thomas and Tyrone - and a daughter, Sandra. He also helped raise Blake, Steve, and John Lawrence.
Brother McClave, better known as "Mac", was a favorite of mine. He and Ida gave me many good memories. They were one the founding families of the Levittown Church of God.
Brother McClave lived out his Christianity in a vibrant, happy way. He liked to have fun. Let me share a few of those memories I have of Mac.
When he got saved he kneeled on the front row, never closed an eye and lifted up his head towards heaven, and said, "I am a sinner, forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Savior, Amen." He got up and went back to his seat. People wondered if he meant it. On Thursday, Sister McClave called and said, "Brother Varner, Mac's saved!" I asked her, "How do you know?" She retorted, "The tight Irishman is paying tithes this week. I know he is saved."
He loved church dinners and he would always duel with Brother Secrist or George Andrews to see who could stack the most dessert on a plate. (They needed sideboards a couple of times.)
One time Brother McClave helped several of our men to peel several bushels of peaches that we froze to use in fried pie projects. We peeled peaches all day. When we took the peaches to the ice locker in Newtown, Brother McClave and Brother Ed Fischer Sr. left the locker in a hurry. Both said it froze their lungs. I took Mac home to the Foxwood Manor apartments. Ida came out the door and said "Mac, I hope that you are ready to peel peaches because I just bought a bushel." Brother McClave gave me an unusual look as I drove away.
He would call me from West Virginia to say "Hi" and to share a good joke. When they reitred to West Virginia in 1980, the church really missed them. In 1990 they returned to the area and became involved in our church again.
Mac loved the Men's Fellowship suppers. Ty tried to get his father to all the events that he could. On one occasion I asked Brother McClave to pray for the meal. He started to pray and shifted to a joke half way through his prayer. The men hardly knew how to respond so I chirped in and said that Brother McClave thought that God needed to laugh.
Tom McClave made many memories that we will cherish. The greatest is the fact that he accepted Christ as his Savior and died as a believer. He has now joined the ever-increasing ex-members of our church who have preceded us to Heaven to cheer us onward to to welcome us when God sends the angels to carry us over Jordan or meet us in the air when Jesus returns.
Thomas McClave, you were loved in life, and you will be missed in death BUT we'll meet you in Heaven some day.