Loretta McClure, at the age of 95, peacefully passed away at Grace Village Healthcare, Winona Lake, on Jan. 1, 2017. And so, because of her faith in Jesus, her Lord and Savior, she begins this new year in that beautiful place where time shall be no more! She was born in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 23, 1921, to Albert A. and Bertha Permoda Tomaszewski, who were both children of Polish immigrants. The family name was later shortened to Thomas. Loretta attended Eberhart Grade School and Lucy Flower Technical School, where she learned the trade of dressmaking and completed her high school education. She and her family moved to Grovertown when she was 23. It was there, at church, that she met her future husband, Newton Arden McClure. They were married Aug. 19, 1945, and had been happily married for 48 years when he preceded her in death on May 10, 1994. She said, “The Lord picked out my mate, and I was happy ever after.” Loretta and her husband, Arden, lived near North Manchester, where they had a chicken farm and hatchery they named “Happinest Farm.” So the city girl from Chicago happily learned the ways of a farmer’s wife and joyfully became a homemaker and mother. She continued to use her outstanding skill as a seamstress, sewing clothes for herself and her family. She also enjoyed crocheting, embroidery and tatting, as well as gardening. She was employed at Heckman Bindery for several years to help with college expenses for her son and daughter. She also did mending and sewing for neighbors and friends. After 40 years on the farm, Loretta and Arden moved to a home near Warsaw. She always stayed busy and found joy and fulfillment in working with her hands and being a helper to others. She volunteered at the local senior center; she folded bulletins at church; she sorted, trimmed and bundled labels and box tops for Warsaw Christian School; she sewed quilt tops, pot holders, baby blankets and baby clothes for missions; and she crocheted sweaters for needy children in other countries. She was thrilled to be Grandma to her four grandchildren and Great-Grandma to five. She loved spending time with them and faithfully prayed for each one. Her family includes her son and daughter-in-law, Arden Thomas “Tom” and JoAnne McClure, Northville, Mich., and her daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Tsi Sou, Warsaw. Her four grandchildren are Helen McClure (Matt Bromeland), Virginia; John McClure, Michigan; Jennifer (spouse Alex) Martinez, Claypool; and Janelle (spouse Shane) Roberts, Tennessee. Her five great-grandchildren are Lexi, Ellie and Anna Martinez and Ezra and Jones Roberts. Also surviving are five nephews, four nieces and her former daughter-in-law, Hilda Jongkind. She was preceded by her parents; a brother, Albert C. Thomas; and a sister, Ruth Pletcher. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral chapel, with Pastor Mark Fishburn officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. ***** Memorials to Warsaw Christian School, 909 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or to First Baptist Church of Pierceton, P.O. Box 807, Pierceton, IN 46562. To sign the guestbook or send condolences electronically, go to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
