Richard C. Mccloud

Richard C. 'Dick' McCloud, 89, of Pekin, passed away at 10:40 AM Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Richard was born in rural Deer Creek, IL on Dec. 17, 1921, the youngest child of Merlin F. and Marie (Moser) McCloud. He married Merla Hundt on August 16, 1947 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pekin, she survives. He was preceded in death by their precious daughter, Ballerina Jo Ann McCloud at age 25. Also preceding in death were his parents, three brothers, Raymond, Delbert and Virgil 'Mick' McCloud; two sisters, Doris Janssen and Arvetta 'Betty; Lewellyn; one niece, Donna Morrow; two nephews and one great great nephew. Surviving 'Uncle Dick' are; one nephew, four nieces, many great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews; and great great great nieces and nephews. At age three the family moved to Eureka where Richard grew up, he was a graduate ofEureka High School Class of 1941. He played football, performed in school musicals and ran the movie projector in local area movie theaters. Dick was a life long fan of the Cubs, the Bears and the performing arts. He worked briefly at Caterpillar before reporting for duty to serve his country in the US Army in Sept. 1942. At Fort Knox, KY he became Corporal of training corps and helped to set up a new training company. He then joined his brother Virgil 'Mic' McCloud in transferring to the headquarters Division of the 20th Corps, commanded by Generals George Patten and Walton H. Walker. The McCloud brothers went to WW II in Europe in Jan. 1944 aboard the Queen Mary. Richard did not cross the channel until after the invasion, but always held great respect for the guys who did. Richard proudly served with the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion, carrying supplies to our troops in England, France, Bavaria and Germany. He received his honorable discharge on November 3, 1945 at Fort Sheridan in Chicago and returned to his hometown of Eureka. He joined the American Legion Post #466 and held membership for over 66 years. Richard then became a traveling salesman for the RCA distributer, Klaus Radio of Peoria. This was the beginning of the work that he loved, traveling and selling, as he later became a factory representative for Fisher Radio, Wurlitzer Music and other manufacturers of electronics. Richard loved the music of the Big Band era, especially Glenn Miller. In 1949 he and his wife moved to Pekin and purchased the Pekin Music Shop on Court Street. In 1967, the McClouds sold the record shop; Richard continued his selling career, retiring in 1981. Daughter Jo Ann had become an accomplished ballerina, choreographer and dance teacher, opening her own Heather Studio in 1975. In Nov. 1978 a tragic accident took herlife.Richard and Merla continued operating their daughters dance studio for six more years and were affectionaly known by many as 'Mom n' Dad McCloud'. Richard was extremely proud of his Scottish heritage, his military service in WW II, his family and personally knowing 'then lifeguard' Ronald Reagan at Eureka College. His love of travel continued in retirement and took Richard to all of the United States, Canada and Mexico and his beloved Scotland; with stops at all the golf courses along the way for the game he loved.