Joshua Thomas "JT" McClure, 23, a resident of Elkins, and more recently a resident of Morgantown, departed this life Saturday Jan. 21, 2012, at Morgantown. He had been in his usual health and death was unexpected.
He was born Friday, July 15, 1988, at Elkins, a son of Melissa and Sean Clayton of Clarksburg and Kevin McClure and companion, Karen Smith, of Buckhannon.
Also surviving are one sister, Jillian Marie McClure of Elkins; one stepbrother, Wyatt Clayton of Morgantown; grandparents, Vic and Linda Thompson and Betty McClure, all of Elkins, and Karen Clayton of Nutter Fort; great-grandparents, William White of Weston and Ruby Posey of Clarksburg; aunts and uncles, Mary McClure, Theresa McClure, Jennifer and Donnie Roberts, all of Elkins, Betsy and Joe Piasente of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Wendy Clayton and Rob Clayton, both of Clarksburg; several great-aunts, great-uncles and cousins; and special companion, Casey Sanders.
JT was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Ralph McClure and Sebert "Zeke" Clayton; and great-grandparents, Joann White, McClure and Pauline Thompson and C.E. and Maxine Platt.
JT was a graduate of Elkins High School with the class of 2006, where he was a three-year letterman and tri-captain of the Elkins High School football and baseball teams. He was also selected as the freshman MORP Prince and the 2006 MORP King. He was a member of the American Legion Post 29 baseball team, attended Mountaineer Boys State and was a member of the National Honor Society. As a member of the 2003 Elkins High School football team, he was inducted into the Randolph County Hall of Fame in August 2011.
He currently was attending West Virginia University with plans to graduate in December 2012 with a degree in physical education and athletic coaching.
A military policeman in the West Virginia Army National Guard, JT did his basic training and AIT with the 201st Class in the Alpha 787 as a private first class with the Military Police Division at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. JT was currently an officer candidate with RTI (Officer Candidate School) at Camp Dawson. He was employed at Longhorn Steakhouse where he was everyone's favorite waiter, especially those of us from Elkins. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elkins.
JT was an avid WVU and Pittsburgh Steeler football fan. He loved hunting with his Grandpa, playing intramural football and softball and spending time with his family and friends, to whom he was fiercely loyal. He will continue to be missed by many and loved by all the hundreds of lives he touched.
The family will receive friends at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, Jan. 27, JT will be moved to First Baptist Church where final rites will be conducted at 1 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Parli will officiate and interment will follow in Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman, where the West Virginia Army National Guard Honor Guard will conduct full military honors.
The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Elkins High School Athletic Boosters, Attention Lisa, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, WV 26241. Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Joshua Thomas "JT" McClure. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhom.com.
