John William McCracken
John William McCracken, 83, of Claysville, died Tuesday, January 8, 2013, in Southmont of Presbyterian SeniorCare, Washington.
He was born December 4, 1929, in Aleppo, a son of John Gilbert McCracken and Harriet Riggle McCracken Armstrong.
Mr. McCracken was employed by Atlas Railroad for many years and for Marta Track of Eighty Four, from where he retired in 1999. He worked as a truck driver all of his life.
He served in the U.S. Army as a private from 1947 to 1948.
Mr. McCracken was a member of American Legion Hunt-Kennedy Post 639, Claysville, where he was past historian and a member of the drill team.
He received the Trucking Industry Safe Driving Award for driving one million miles accident free.
Mr. McCracken enjoyed visiting with his friends at the American Legion, mowing grass in the area, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, and being with his dogs.
On April 7, 1975, he married Arlene J. Campbell, who died November 15, 2012.
Surviving are a son, John “Jay” (Patti) McCracken of Washington; two daughters, Sandy (Jesse) Lowther of Washington and Judy (Bob) Silvers of Prosperity; additional children, Clarence (Laura) Allshouse of Yuma, Ariz., Joe (Linda) Allshouse of Claysville, and Kimberly (Alan) Demski of Claysville; a sister, Irene Hodgson of Washington; three sisters-in-law, Mary Murphy, Jeannie Armstrong and Linda Armstrong; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and several “honorary grandchildren,” whom he considered to be part of his family.
He also leaves behind his best buddy, a Boston terrier, Angel.
Deceased are brothers Willis “Pete” McCracken, Charles “Ken” Armstrong, William “Bill” Armstrong, Donald Armstrong and Corwin Armstrong; and sisters Helen Glendenning and Jeannine Harps.