KILMARNOCK—Robert Milton Clem Sr., 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 26, 2018, at Commonwealth Senior Living Center in Kilmarnock.
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, Mich., 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 three years they moved to Baltimore, Md., 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 two children moved to Kilmarnock, where he lived with them for the remaining five 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 was held from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, at Historic White Marsh Church in Lancaster, followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. He will be interred in a family plot at Holly Hills Cemetery in Baltimore, Md., at 2 p.m. today, August 30.
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, VA 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 also would 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.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
