Harold Loyd Cline, a long-time resident of Willow Springs, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019, while at Willow Care Nursing Home. Born Sept. 16, 1929, the only child of Andrew Orvil and Dollie (Corless) Cline in Chesterfield, Mo., he was 89 years old.
Harold grew up in Wellston, Mo., and graduated from Normandy High School in 1947. As a student, he worked as a soda jerk at a drug store and also worked half days at Rawlings Sporting Goods in St. Louis. He served his country in the U.S. Navy, including service aboard the USS Missouri in Japan, and remained in the Naval Reserves for several years. He was employed by Rawlings from 1945 to 1976, and as a troubleshooter and craftsman represented the company at major league spring training camps, where he met many Baseball Hall of Fame future members.
On May 31, 1969, he married Joyce Johnson White in Willow Springs. Harold had many interests in life. He loved woodworking, leather working, collecting all kinds of sports memorabilia, floating the rivers and going to casinos. He especially enjoyed playing practical jokes on everyone. Some of his favorite times were spent on cruising vacations with his wife, Joyce, and their good friends, Dave and Joyce Perry.
For more than 50 years, the highlight of his social week was Wednesday night poker with his buddies at the Doghouse. He was a member of the Ingomar Masonic Lodge #536 AF & AM in Willow Springs, St. Louis Valley Scottish Rite, the Moolah Shriners in St. Louis and the Moolah Arab Patrol, where he performed with the precision marching drill team. Harold loved his cat who appeared at his door in minus-six degree weather two days before his beloved wife passed away and he named the cat Joyce. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Dollie Cline; wife, Joyce Cline; a nephew, Steven Langham; and several cousins.
He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Marivonne Langham, Houston, Mo., and Mary Johnson Hilterbrand, Montrose, Colo.; nieces and nephews, Cecelia (Don) Dillman, Greenfield, Mo., Charlotte (Charlie) Porter, Lufkin, Texas, Suzanne (Dennis) Newkirk, Branson, Mo., Deann Johnson, Vinita, Okla., Michael (Susan) Duff, St. Louis, Mo., Billy Sillyman,Las Vegas, Nev., and Sally George, Belton, Mo.; and cousins; Lowell (Barbara) Bowling, Mountain View, Mo., Ron (Cheryl) Ruby, Glencoe, Mo., Bob (Becky) Bowling, Eureka, Mo., Larry (Margie) Heintz, St. Louis, Mo., Floyd Corless, Foristell, Mo., Carolyn (Cleve) Lovelace, Lillian, Alab., and Judy Heintz, Bland, Mo.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home, LLC. Online condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com.
The family requests memorial donations be made in Harold’s memory to the following organizations: MUNCH, 811 E. Main St., Willow Springs, Mo., 65793; Willow Springs Senior Center, Attn: New Building Addition, 501 Senior Lane, Willow Springs, Mo., 65793; or Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Pt., Dr., Tampa, Fla., 33607.
PAID