Betty McClure

Betty Pebley McClure, 93, died on July 9, 2021, in York, Pennsylvania, from complications brought on by breast cancer.
Born Aug. 8, 1927, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Edwin A. and Margaret Blough Pebley. She graduated from Ferndale High School in Johnstown and married Robert E. McClure III in 1950 in Johnstown.

In 1958, Bob and Betty moved with their four children from New Haven, Connecticut, to Brandenburg, Kentucky, where they would live for the next 49 years. There, they became members of Brandenburg United Methodist Church, a membership they would enjoy before their move to be near their family in York. They became members of Providence Presbyterian Church in York.

Betty was a lifelong reader. She started and maintained for many years the library at Brandenburg United Methodist Church. She was particularly gifted in mentoring young women, leading interdenominational Bible studies and small groups for years.

In the community, she served on a team of four to distribute money for victims’ families from the 1974 E5 tornado that devastated Brandenburg. She received the Kentucky Colonel assignation from the governor of Kentucky for her work on this team.

Betty was a gatherer of friends throughout her life, using God-given gifts of helpfulness, hospitality and humor. She could draw on a wide range of life experiences to deeply empathize and quietly encourage; her counsel was rooted and grounded in a deep understanding of Scripture and Christian teachings.

Though in ill health for the past decade, she developed a wide circle of friends throughout the United States using Words with Friends and Facebook on her iPad.

She was a woman of unwavering faith in Christ and exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman to her family and friends, the latter made up of pretty much anyone she met. Indeed, as in Proverbs, her husband of 71 years would believe: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

In addition to her husband, her four children survive: Robert E. (Carol) McClure IV of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; James (Della) McClure of York; Donald (Enid) McClure of Bel Air, Maryland; and Margaret (Richard) Ramage of York; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Providence Presbyterian Church, 1250 Church Road, York. Private burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Pastors Vince Wood, Darryl MacPherson and David Brinker will officiate. Kuhner Associates Funeral Home, York, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Hospice and Community Care, 235 St. Charles Way, Suite 250, York, PA 17402; or Benevolence.

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