Clyde Ernest Shockley Jr.

Col. Clyde Shockley, 94, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Sunday, October 7, 2012. Husband, father, soldier, business owner, educator, and church leader, he lived a full life as a proud member of the greatest generation.

Born December 20, 1917, in Pacolet, SC, Clyde loved life in a small Southern town where he met and kept lifelong friends. He graduated from The Citadel in 1938, and moved to Charlotte where he met the love of his life, Dene Buchanan, at a boarding house on Elizabeth Avenue and got married in 1942. He was called to active duty to serve his country in World War II with the 94th Infantry Division in General Patton’s Third Army. He fought for two years in Europe in many campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Bronze Star for valor and refusing to accept three Purple Heart citations.

After returning from occupying Czechoslovakia, Clyde and Dene settled in Charlotte to start a family and enter the business community, while continuing to serve his country in the Army Reserve for thirty-three years. He was co-owner of a wholesale distributor, Chapman-Harkey Co., until his retirement.

As an educator, Col. Shockley taught Army Command & General Staff courses at Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Gordon and Fort Jackson. He served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Outward Bound School. And he was proud to be a Sunday school teacher and chairman of the church council at St. Marks’ Lutheran Church.

In his free time, he loved woodworking and travelling the world with Dene and family. He built furniture for the family and St. Marks’. He bragged about making all “A's” in his woodworking classes at Central Piedmont Community College.

He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Dene Buchanan Shockley; his son, Steven and wife, Lecia, and grandson, Zane, of Charlotte; son, David, of Mt Gilead, NC; and grandchildren, Katie and Nick. His other living relative is his nephew, Dr. Alex McMahan of San Antonio, TX. He is preceded in death by his father, Clyde E. Shockley and mother, Belle McCord Shockley, and sister, Mabel McMahan.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 10th, at 2 pm at St Marks’ Lutheran Church, 1001 Queens Road, Charlotte, 28207. Friends can greet the family prior to the service from 1-1:45 pm at St. Marks’. Interment with military honors will follow at the Sharon Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorials can be sent in his name to St. Marks’ Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be offered at www.HarryandBryantFuneralHome.com