Fred W. Mccloskey, Sr.

Rev. Fred William McCloskey, Sr., 85, passed into the presence of the Lord, Friday, September 5, 2008. Most recently a resident of Washington, he formerly lived in Ocala, Florida. He was born March 15, 1923, in Williamsport, a son of William Fulmer and Helen C. Lindauer McCloskey. Rev. McCloskey, a retired Baptist minister, graduated from Lycoming College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, now known as Palmer Theological Seminary. Over the course of a 35-year ministry, he pastored First Baptist Church in Barnesboro, Lower Dublin Baptist Church in Philadelphia, First Baptist Church in Sayre, First Baptist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, and First Baptist Church in Waverly, New York. He also served several interim pastorates. During World War II, he served with the Army Air Forces in the 30th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron where he was involved in the Air Offensive in Europe (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe). Mr. McCloskey’s medals include the Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with 6 bronze stars. Mr. McCloskey was involved with the Rotary Club and the church softball league. On September 1, 1949, he married Carrie Bastress, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Rev. Fred W. (Robin) McCloskey of Washington; a daughter, Natalie (Jimmy) Henning of Hawesville, Kentucky; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Bethany, Joel, Nathan, Micah, Chantelle (Niki) and Marc Fruge’. Deceased are two sisters, Gladys Mesmer and Betty Collins; and a brother, Dalton McCloskey. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd. 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 13th, with Rev. Fred McCloskey Jr., officiating. Burial in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1701 Ridgewood Drive, Washington PA 15301; or to Youth with a Mission, P. O. Box 78219, Nashville TN 37207.