Praise be to God the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Desmond, My Brother in Christ whom I met 3 Years ago while I was outside cutting my Lawn. We just started up a conversation about The Lord and our fellowship and Friendship just took off from there.  Desmond was a Great Man who Loved the Lord, always giving Him the Glory! Even though he was facing some health challenges. He always cared more for others than himself. I really enjoyed our conversations which always lasted more than we call ourselves planning. Brother Desmond will be Temporarily Missed, but I look now with 100% certainty that I will see him again in Heaven as we will be around the Throne Worshipping The Lord of Heaven. May The Lord bless this Soldiers family. Until we meet again. Weeping is for a moment, but Joy is in the Morning!

Des worked with my Daddy, Johnny Johnson at American Steel for many years. They were more like brothers than a co worker.  Daddy was several years older and retired to Kentucky with chronic COPD. A few years passed & my Daddy died in 2007, the morning of the funeral I arrived early to spend some alone time with my Daddy & to my surprise-there was Des, he'd drove over 400 miles through the night to say his goodbyes to his buddy, a veteran, a friend...a brother. Des was a wonderful, devoted, proud & God loving man. He was a gift to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. You shall be missed dear friend and look forward to meeting up with you at heavens gate. To his family please know that my prayers are with you for continued comfort 🙏 ❤️

Des, or "Doodie" or "Dude" as we used to call him will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. My parents and his parents were friends way back in the 50's & 50's. We lived in an apartment building in Detroit and I remember them getting together to play poker. Des went to Vietnam when I was a child, but I remember the adults being so scared. We lost contact for a long time, then reconnected in a very unique way, let me tell you the story...this was about 20 years ago. I am a nurse and was working at St Joe's Hospital in Clinton Twp in the outpatient surgery dept. when I noticed a familiar name. I called my Mom to verify and told her I would call her back later that day. Desmond was scheduled for a procedure, I tried to get to him beforehand in but couldn't so I wrote my name and phone number on a piece of paper and pinned it to his gown. When he came out of the procedure, Faye, his wife at the time saw it and wondered "what the hell, Des". He saw my name and said, you have to find this women! I got to his room just before he was discharged and he took one look at me at said "you are Sherelene's daughter!" That was all it took for him to start reminising and telling stories of our past. He told me that he remembered the day I was born and when my Mom brought me home from the hospital, he came to hold me that very same day. We never lost contact again after that fateful day 20 years ago. We spoke on occassion and texted almost every week. We shared  events in each others life. He came to my daughter's graduation party 13 years ago and to her wedding in 2022. He was  dedicated to befriending and supporting fellow veterans and I wanted to find a way to help so I have crocheted hats for the Operation Christmas program. I think I've made about 200 so far and will continue this year and beyond to honor the memory of my life-long friend. 
Sincerely, forever your friend, Glenda Sparkman (Stephenson).

So sorry to Dez’s family and the rest of us.  Des was truly a treasure, kind beyond measure, respectful and always helpful…but above all he was a man of his word.    If he said he would do something…he did it, most of the time with a laugh and a smile that was contagious.   He had a way of helping everyone laugh, sometimes at ourselves and He would never let anyone be alone especially a Vet in need.  We lost a good one and probably one of the last of the greats.  I got the privilege to work with Dez at SANG and at TACOM and he was every bit full of life and kindness.   Sorry for everyone’s loss, especially his family.     

Kerry McDonald and Family.

I met Des many years ago at SANGB…. 
He was a great man, with a huge smile and many stories to tell. He will be missed at our SFS functions. 
My thoughts and prayers to his family.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Des used to tell me stories of the Army days and send me lots of photos of the Chinook since that’s what my husband flies. I met him at Tacom and we’ve been friends ever since. He was such a true patriotic hero who will never be forgotten. Sending lots of love to you all.

Desmond McClure

First, my sincere condolences go out to Desmond’s family during this time of deep loss.  May God be with you in this time of grief.  

Let me tell you how I knew Desmond.   Desmond was a little over a year older than me and has been my friend for over 70 years.   We spent our early lives with our parents in downtown Detroit apartments.  His Dad and mine were Navy buddies and our moms were also good friends.  In fact, I will always remember his mom as my Aunt Betty.   

One of my fondest memories was when Demond and I would visit Mr. Mitty (the owner of the apartment building where we lived.   We would visit with Mr. Mitty for a while and then, inevitable Mr. Mitty would insist on giving us money to go down to the corner drug store where they had a soda fountain.  And yes, I am that old!  Just FYI - if you have never had a real soda fountain chocolate or cherry coke you do not know what you are missing!  

Desmond and I remained friends over the years, and he is the godfather of my son – Eric.   Unfortunately, I moved to California in the 1980’s and we have we did not stay in contact as much as we should have.   There is that old saying that you never miss something till it’s gone. Well – I miss my friend  “DUTY”  (as I grew up calling him) and “DUTY” – please save me a seat at the soda fountain.

Veteran’s Day with the Felstow family at Texas Roadhouse.

I send prayers for peace in the family and I ask God to grant me the same. I met Des while working for TSA at DTW. We struck up a good friendship that grew stro g over the years. When I was on restriction and stuck at the domestic gates, Des would visit me several times a day just to chat and lift my spirits.  We had a coworker die in a car accident and Des drove my car so we could attend the visitation and the wake.  I ended up living south of Detroit o we weren't able to visit often but we shared phone calls and Facebook messages. I always enjoyed his posts about the ever elusive Char.  Oh how that made me laugh. Sort of a where's Waldo. 
I'll miss the Char posts and phone calls.  I  have bright memories to keep me smiling with Des close in my heart ❤

To the family I am sorry for your loss.   Dez was a great man and great friend.  We spent a lot of midnight's together at the gate at SANGB .  Dez would often call everyone brother in law.   Family I am just a call away if I can do anything for you.

Mackenzie and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Everything that Mackenzie has told me about her dad seemed like he was an amazing man. Praying for your family. 

Joseph Lettner

Met Dez from my cousin and her husband who is a best friend of Dez  when he came to Texas. He was able to visit my lake house with my cousin and her husband and we had live music there and a big dinner. This was good fellowship and a thanks for serving our country in the Vietnam conflict. He will be missed 🙏✝️❤️

I’m so sorry for your loss. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful Des was. I had the absolute pleasure working with Des at the Arsenal for many years and I’ll miss him calling me when Hockey was on just to tell me to keep the faith Jen Jen this is our year!! I’ll miss him terribly but was lucky enough to have in my life for these many years and hope to be as compassionate and wonderful as he was.

MaryRose,  Michelle, and Mackenzie.....my heart is very broken for you.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time, and I'm praying God give you peace, strength, and comfort to press on.  Desmond is and always will be one in a million.  Always a smile on his face, was generous, and never met a stranger. I have so many memories of him, and the stories Dad and Desmond would always tell me about their time in Basic Training, It blesses my heart how they kept in touch, remained great friends,  was a big part of our family, and he becoming "Uncle Des".  Well Uncle Des....you're now among the angels you always talked about.  Love you and you'll be greatly missed........

Uncle Des with Kyle, at Alamo Springs Cafe in the Texas Hill Country

Uncle Des with Kyle at Alamo Springs Cafe in the Texas Hill Country

Uncle Des with Taylor Rhoads, taken at the wedding reception of Lisa Mathews and Jim Henderson.

My deepest heartfelt sympathy to his family. I met Des through my husband belonging to Chapter 154 over 40 years ago. Our children were young, he would dress up as a clown. Even without his clown costume he would always have a joke or want to make you laugh and smile. My husband has now been gone 7 years. I know John was there saying "Welcome Home."

When I first started at the Detroit Arsenal, I was 19 years old. Mr. McClure processed my visitor's badge and noticed my age, and the first thing he said to me was "Make sure you start contributing to your TSP!" I had no idea what he was talking about at the time but here I am 11 years later still investing in my TSP! I also  onboarded new hires for a while and communicated with him back then at the visitor control center. He left a great first impression and was very welcoming on my first day! 

I am very sorry for your loss! Mr. McClure was kind and had a good heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and MaryRose. 

Kind regards,

Rochelle Ingham

This was the day that Des WALKED a mile after his car broke down to attend the funeral of my uncle who was a WWII Veteran !!!

My brother from another Mother .I will miss your infectious laughter and all of those sayings of yours and Your compassion for your fellow Veterans Rest easy warrior ,we have the watch .

OBITUARY

Desmond M. McClure Jr.

July 16, 1950 – May 26, 2024

A.H. Peters Funeral Home

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