Clyde P. Minich, age 86 of West Wood Street, Clarion, PA, passed from this life to life eternal on May 18, 2016 at 3:30 a.m. at his home. He was born on the family farm in North Freedom, PA, a son of the late Conrad L., Sr., and Hazel Estella (Boddorf) Minich, on July 8, 1929, one of seven children, and the last surviving member of the Minich family. He was the step son of the late J. Walter Ames. After his mother married Mr. Ames in 1938, Clyde and his younger brother, Jiggs, (Conrad L. Minich, Jr.) lived with their eldest brother and sister-in-law, John Darl and Nora Jane (Hindman) Minich. Clyde attended the one-room Snyder School in North Freedom, PA, for the first eight grades, and graduated from Punxsutawney High School with the class of 1948. He readily recalls his older brothers helping him through the snow in the winter months; they only had about a mile to go, and back then they walked. Following graduation, he worked for Homes Dry Cleaners in Brookville, prior to enlisting in the United States Army on September 8, 1948. He had eight weeks of basic training at Camp Breckinridge, KY, and after basic, he attended the clerk typist school in Fort Lee, VA for eight weeks. Following this, he was transferred to the Army-Navy Hospital on Guam for nineteen months as a Secretary. Upon returning to the U.S., he was assigned to the 11th Replacement Company, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY, as a Personnel Clerk. Shortly after being assigned there, he requested "jump school" as was sent to the Airborne Training School in Fort Benning, GA, for three weeks, where he received his parachutist badge upon completion. Returning to Fort Campbell, he was assigned to the "Cadre" for the Replacement Company as a Personal Secretary to the Company Commander (Lt. Brown). He was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant on June 23, 1952. He enjoyed his time in the service. After his discharge, he was employed for a short time by the LEF&C Railroad in Clarion in the accounting department. He was then employed the Chevrolet Tonawanda, in Tonawanda, NY and by Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls, NY. After being laid off by Bell, he returned to Clarion, where he spent the next thirty-five years at Owens-Illinois, now Owens-Brockway; thirty years in the Accounting Department and five years in the Quality and Specifications Department. He served as President of the Clarion Onized Club in 1966 and 1969 and a member of the Clarion Onized Federal Credit Union, now know as the Clarion Federal Credit Union. He served as secretary of the Board of Directors for several years. Clyde was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarion for many years, serving as Financial Secretary for nearly thirty-five years. He also served on various other committees in the church; Education committee, ex-officio to the Finance committee, a representative of the Untied Methodist Men to the Church Council, and as a dedicated member of the Chancel Choir for many years. He and his late wife, Joan, sang duets in the church and on Wednesday evenings. Joan was the accompanist and Clyde tried to lead the singing. In his earlier years, Clyde was involved in Pyramid Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and the Cub Scouts of Troop 51. Clyde was very involved in the Clarion Lodge Number 277 of the Free and Accepted Masons, serving as Worshipful Master in 1966, and as Lodge Secretary for over thirty years. He served as Most Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix of the Coudersport Consistory in 1975 and 1976. He served as Secretary of the 52nd Masonic District School of Instruction for many years and also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Clarion County Coudersport Consistory Club. He loved his Masonic affiliation and the Brethren thereunto belonging. He received his 50-year Masonic Emblem of Gold from Clarion Lodge Number 277 in 2009, and his 50-year Certificate and Pin from Coudersport Consistory in 2012. Currently, he was serving the Lodge as Chaplain, also as a Member of the Instruction committee, Charity committee and Masonic Education committee. He was also a member of the Jefferson Royal Arch Chapter Number 255 in Brookville. Clyde was also a member of the American Legion Post 66 in Clarion, PA. On August 13, 1988, in the Grace United Methodist Church in Oil City, PA, Clyde was married to Joan M. Dolby-Vandenberg by the Rev. John Stevenson and Rev. G. H. Trumbo. Joan went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 22, 2011. She was laid to rest next to her first husband, Edward Vandenberg. Clyde, Kenneth, and Joyce were by her side, as were Barbara Krupnik and Gina DeLair, when she passed. Surviving Clyde is his son, Kenneth D. Minich and wife, Joyce (Hartzell), of Shippenville, PA; his two grand-daughters, Jennifer Cain and husband Gregory of Marble, PA, and Allison Smith and husband Patrick of New Bethlehem, PA; two great-grand-daughters, Gemma and Noelle Grippo; and a great-grand-son, Landon Smith. Mrs. Lois L. Davis, mother of Kenneth D. Minich, and former wife of the deceased, also survives. He is also survived by two half-brothers, Robert K. "R.K." Ames of Welsica, FL, and Lewis B. "Butch" Ames and wife Kathy of Palm Coast, FL; two step-daughters, Amy Gwasdauskas and husband Edward of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and Julie Berryman and husband Danny of Mt. Sterling, KY; a step-son, John Vandenberg and friend Debra of Wheeling, WV; three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Nora Jane Minich of North Freedom, PA, Mrs. Leah Jane Minich of Fairmount City, PA, and Mrs. Yvonne "Bonnie" Dolby of Shippenville, PA; and a step-brother, William O. Ames and wife Rose of Brookville, PA. Additionally, Clyde is survived by thirteen step-grandchildren, Todd and Tara Reis, Adam Reis, Rachel Bingle and huband John, Louella Kegel and husband William, Kenneth Hartzell II and wife Kelly, Stephanie Hartzell, Kyle Berryman, and Rory Vandenberg and friend Tiffany; fourteen step-great-grand-children, Ashley and Aiden Reis, Elizabeth, Emily and Jack Bingle, L'il Rose and Payne Vandeberg, Lily Rose and Kole Berryman, Mason Burr, Quinten Graham, Kenneth Hartzell III and Odin Hartzell, and William Kegel. Clyde was predeceased by his father, Conrad L. Minich Sr. in 1932, and his mother Hazel Estella (Boddorf) Minich in 1980. His brothers and sisters preceded him, Grahle in 1933, his eldest brother, John Darl in 2005, and in one year, 2009, his sister, Verna Reitz, his brother, Conrad Jr. "Jiggs", his brother Wayne L. Sr., and his brother Glenn. Clyde was also predeceased by his step-father, Walter Ames; three step-brothers, N. Charles Ames, Howard Ames, and J. Walter Ames; two step-sisters, Vesta Keough and Ruby Harp; an infant step-brother; a brother-in-law, Harry Etzel; a sister-in-law, Delores Etzel; the mother of his grand-daughters, Linda L. (Kiser-Minich)Smith; and a step-grand-daughter, Kimberly Berryman, from a fire in Kentucky. Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood Street, Clarion where friends and family will be received from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 - 11 a.m. on Saturday in the Gathering Space of the First United Methodist Church, 600 Wood Street, Clarion, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Deryl K. Larsen, retired United Methodist minister, and Rev. Kevin R. Haley, pastor, presiding. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. A luncheon will be held in the Dining Room of the First United Methodist Church following the service. Everyone is invited to attend the luncheon and visitation afterwards. Lunch will be prepared by the "Girls" from the County Seat Restaurant. Private interment will be held in the North Freedom United Methodist Church Cemetery for the immediate family after the luncheon and visitation. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to Living Stones Fund of the First United Methodist Church, 600 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214 (www.fumc-clarion.org), the Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion PA 16214 (www.cfvna.org), or the North Freedom United Methodist Church Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund. Visitation: Goble Funeral Home & Crematory 330 Wood St. Clarion, PA 16214 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., Friday, May 20, 2016