Robert Samuel McCleskey passed away Sunday morning at the age of 88 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mac was born on July 7, 1922 in Wrens, GA to Robert Samuel and Lucille McCleskey. He graduated from Erskine College in Due West, SC and attended Military Academy at Annapolis before honorably serving his country in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. He was stationed in Mobile, AL and later on Guam. He was a schoolteacher and coach at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, GA and he retired from Metropolitan Life Insurance after 27 years of service. He married in 1949 and was the proud father of a daughter, Alice, born in 1952. Mac loved his family with a passion that was unequaled and became a father figure to his three grandchildren when his daughter passed away in 1999. Mac was a man of faith in spirit and in service. An active member of Parkway Presbyterian Church, Mac served as a Deacon and an Elder and loved his Sunday school class. Mac was an avid rose gardener, a true fisherman, and he held a special place in his life for his friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Elsie Upchurch McCleskey; grandchildren Robert and Lindsay Masone, Samuel Masone, Ryan and Amanda Masone Hosenfeld and five great grandchildren; Payton, Mac, Bryce, Alice and Gabriel. Also surviving is his sister Ceil Parrish of Wrens, GA and several nieces and nephews, all of whom were very special to him. In addition, Leigh and David Wright of Charlotte, NC, were also loving children in his life. A memorial service to honor his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at Parkway Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Parkway Presbyterian Church.

Posted by Salem Funerals & Cremations