Obituary for Robert Milton Clem Sr.
KILMARNOCK - Robert Milton Clem, Sr., age 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 26, 2018 at Commonwealth Senior Living Center in Kilmarnock, VA.
Mr. Clem was preceded in death by his wife Frances (Keyser) Clem and is survived by his two children: Robert Clem, Jr. and Shirley (Clem) Maddy. He also leaves behind two granddaughters and their husbands, Dawn (Maddy) and Brian Whaley and Regina (Maddy) and Robert Norton, Jr. and 6 Great-Grandchildren: Austin Norton, Braden Whaley, Hunter Norton, Brent Whaley, Bryce Whaley and Brianna Whaley.
Robert is a veteran of World War II. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, as one of thirteen children to Allen Clem, Sr and Irene (Martin) Clem. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy. While stationed at Dahlgren Naval Base in Virginia, Robert met his wife Frances and they were married four months later on November 17, 1945. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in April 1946, they moved to Michigan, where their first child was born. After 3 years they moved to Baltimore, Maryland where his second child was born and he lived there for 65 years. After the passing of his wife, Frances and son-in-law Charles “Eddie” Maddy, Robert and his 2 children moved to Kilmarnock, VA, where he lived with them for the remaining 5 years of his life.
He served three years in the United States Navy in World War II, on the LST-738. He survived the Landing at Mindoro when his ship took fire from a Japanese Kamikaze plane and was sunk. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Navy never left him, as friends and family will attest.
A viewing will be held this Wednesday, August 29, 2018 from 1-2pm at Historic White Marsh Church in Lancaster, VA, with the funeral service held promptly at 2pm, and he will be interred in a family plot at Holly Hills Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to:
Historic White Marsh Church
11040 Mary Ball Road
P.O.Box 24
Lancaster,Virginia 22503.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living Center in Kilmarnock, who took great care of Robert Clem, Sr. while he was a resident. They would also like to thank the paramedics of the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department who helped on many occasions throughout the last few months of Robert Clem, Sr’s life, as well as the Hospice of Virginia staff that took great care of him, especially Julia, Artyka and Kelly.
Mr. Clem was preceded in death by his wife Frances (Keyser) Clem and is survived by his two children: Robert Clem, Jr. and Shirley (Clem) Maddy. He also leaves behind two granddaughters and their husbands, Dawn (Maddy) and Brian Whaley and Regina (Maddy) and Robert Norton, Jr. and 6 Great-Grandchildren: Austin Norton, Braden Whaley, Hunter Norton, Brent Whaley, Bryce Whaley and Brianna Whaley.
Robert is a veteran of World War II. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, as one of thirteen children to Allen Clem, Sr and Irene (Martin) Clem. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy. While stationed at Dahlgren Naval Base in Virginia, Robert met his wife Frances and they were married four months later on November 17, 1945. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in April 1946, they moved to Michigan, where their first child was born. After 3 years they moved to Baltimore, Maryland where his second child was born and he lived there for 65 years. After the passing of his wife, Frances and son-in-law Charles “Eddie” Maddy, Robert and his 2 children moved to Kilmarnock, VA, where he lived with them for the remaining 5 years of his life.
He served three years in the United States Navy in World War II, on the LST-738. He survived the Landing at Mindoro when his ship took fire from a Japanese Kamikaze plane and was sunk. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Navy never left him, as friends and family will attest.
A viewing will be held this Wednesday, August 29, 2018 from 1-2pm at Historic White Marsh Church in Lancaster, VA, with the funeral service held promptly at 2pm, and he will be interred in a family plot at Holly Hills Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to:
Historic White Marsh Church
11040 Mary Ball Road
P.O.Box 24
Lancaster,Virginia 22503.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living Center in Kilmarnock, who took great care of Robert Clem, Sr. while he was a resident. They would also like to thank the paramedics of the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department who helped on many occasions throughout the last few months of Robert Clem, Sr’s life, as well as the Hospice of Virginia staff that took great care of him, especially Julia, Artyka and Kelly.