Charles "Salty" McClenaghan

Charles William “Salty” McClenaghan, age 94, of Lancaster passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at The Arbors at Carroll. He was born Aug. 14, 1921 to William and Margaret Lutz McClenaghan Ruff and proudly called Lancaster “home” his entire life. Salty was a 1939 Lancaster High School graduate and the last surviving member of the 1939 Golden Gales football team. He served his country as a staff sergeant in the 528th Ambulance Co. in WWII at “The Battle of the Bulge.” After the war, he pursued a degree from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, later retiring after a 40-year career at the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home as a dedicated funeral director and mortician. Salty was outgoing, gregarious and a gifted storyteller who deeply loved his community. He was a member of the Maple St. United Methodist Church; Lancaster Elks Lodge 570; Moose Lodge, Chapter 955; Kiwanis Club of Lancaster and American Legion Post 11. He was a Trustee of United Cerebral Palsy Center of Lancaster and a founding member of the Fairfield Mental Retardation Center. Salty was an avid golfer, camper, athlete and outdoorsman. He loved kids and coached numerous Little League teams, winning multiple city championships. After retirement, he and wife Muguette spent the next 28 winters enjoying softball, fishing and fellow snowbirds in sunny Bonita Springs, Florida. As a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Salty enjoyed life to the fullest; he is deeply missed.

Salty is survived by his daughter Suzanne L. (Paul F.) Harrington, Colleyville, TX; and sons Charles H. (Barbara) McClenaghan, Dublin, OH; Robert W. McClenaghan, Rushville, OH; and Richard W. (Victoria) McClenaghan, Westerville, OH; grandchildren Keeton W. and Paul F. Harrington II; Sean P. (Jiaying) McClenaghan and Molly Ann McClenaghan; and Walter H. McClenaghan; and great-granddaughter Halle K. Harrington. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Muguette Halle McClenaghan and parents.

As per Salty’s request, Caring Cremation™ will take place through the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME. As the self-proclaimed “World’s Best Embalmer”, Salty believed that no one could do as satisfactory of a job on him!!

A memorial service will take place on Friday Feb. 12th, 2016 at 1030AM at the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME. Family and friends may visit on Thursday at the funeral home from 5PM until 7 PM. A private burial will take place at Forest Rose Cemetery at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Salty’s memory to the Fairfield Center for disAbilities and Cerebral Palsy, Inc., 681 E. Sixth Ave., Lancaster, OH 43130. Online condolences can be made at www.funeralhome.com. The family extends its gratitude to the compassionate staff and residents at The Arbors at Carroll.

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