Elizabeth Eastman McClenny

Elizabeth “Betty” McClenny was born in Kimball, Nebraska on April 2, 1922, to Roy and Emma (Dudek) Eastman and departed this life to be with her Lord on January 2, 2016. She was a proud member of The Greatest Generation. She was raised by her great Aunt Liz Eastman in Campbell, Nebraska but later graduated from Kimball County High School in 1940. After attending Barnes School of Commerce in Denver, Colorado, she accepted a job at the Office of Production Management (later called War Production Board) in Washington, DC, and reported for work on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor Attack.

In 1943, Betty went to Long Beach, California where she worked as a secretary at Douglas Aircraft Company. It was during this time she met S/Sgt Frank McClenny, USMC. They married June 2, 1945 after his return from Iwo Jima to begin Officers Training in Quantico, Virginia.

The McClennys lived in Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; and Waco, Texas before moving to Bellaire in 1956. They immediately joined Bellaire United Methodist Church where they raised their family. She was a secretary at Process Sales Company for many years and later retired from the Student Affairs Office at Rice University. The McClennys enjoyed dancing and travelling all over the US researching their family history and attending Marine reunions. They enjoyed vacations in Hawaii where Frank had been stationed; and Alaska, where they planned to live had a shipping strike not intervened, causing them to start their family in Seattle.

Her family was the light of her life. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her “Bunnie” and she was never happier than when they were around. It was a family tradition to take their children & grandchildren to religious and patriotic celebrations, all the time making them aware of their heritage.

Betty was a member of Lady Washington Cptr., NSDAR, Asbury Tait Cptr , US Daughters of 1812, Daughters of Union Veterans, and the Houston Genealogical Forum. She was also a member of the Gibson and Seekers Sunday School classes and Bank of Texas Leisure Club. For more than 27 years, Betty seldom missed her aerobic and line dance classes - she always “kept moving” and loved her Big Band music.

The McClennys went to many 4th Marine Division Reunions and, after Frank’s death on May 10, 1994, Betty continued to attend and was an active member of Chapter 8, 4th Marine Division Assn of WWII in Houston. Frank had been the correspondent for his Recon Company and Betty continued to “pass the word.”

She was preceded in death by her beloved Frank, her Aunt Liz Eastman, her parents, her brother, Nate Eastman and sister, Doris Fritzler.

Betty will be greatly missed. Her strength, her faith and her ideals were an inspiration to her entire family. Surviving her are her son, Frank B. McClenny, III, his wife, Evander; daughters Marilyn Whitley, her husband, Mike; and Diana McCommon, her husband, Tim; six Grandchildren: Todd Whitley, his partner, Lora Perales; Katie Whitley Castro, her husband, Omar; Allison Whitley; Chuck McCommon, his wife, Dorota; Scotty McCommon; and Ben McCommon; seven Great Grandchildren, Isaac, Wade and Jack Whitley; Luke and Colleen Castro; Mia and Sean McCommon; and by her many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Visitation with the family will be on Monday, January 4th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Bellaire Earthman Funeral Home, with services also there on Tuesday, January 5th at 11:00 am. The Rev. Tom Crowe will be officiating. A private burial will be at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Semper Fi Fund or a charity of your choice.