Benjamin Mason McClure

Benjamin “Ben” Mason McClure - loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many, went to his heavenly home on March 2, 2021 after a recent diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

Ben is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Jane McClure (Palmer); his daughter Jacqui Pernicano (McClure), son-in-law Chris Pernicano, grandson Chris, Jr. (Jennifer), great grandchildren Cecilia and Leo Pernicano, grandson Nicholas (Kaelah), great grandchildren Luca, Giovanna and Daniella Pernicano; son-in-law Sean Seal, grandson (Bubba) Herbert Barragan (Amber), great grandchildren Herbie and Bentley Barragan and grandson Travis Seal. Ben is also survived by his siblings Edna Rae Spencer (Florida) and Wayne Brinlee (San Diego).

He is predeceased by his daughter Vickie Seal (McClure) and parents Bertha McClure (Akin) and Benjamin McClure, Sr.

Ben was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bertha Lee and Benjamin Mason McClure, Sr. At six months of age Ben’s family moved to San Diego. Ben grew up in Linda Vista and Kearny Mesa and attended Linda Vista Elementary and Montgomery Junior High and Kearny High School. Ben was a very proud Kearny Komet graduate, class of 1959. He was a United States Army Veteran and spent most of his career working in the electronics industry.

Ben met Jane while in the Army stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. It was last call and he made a bet with his buddies that he could get Jane to dance with him. Ben approached Jane and she turned him down, explaining that she was leaving in the morning to go home to Ohio. Ben was not about to lose the bet, exclaiming “one dance won’t kill you” and so coat on and purse in hand, they danced, dated for one month and the rest is a 55 - year history.

He was very dedicated to his family and loved watching his daughters and grandsons play sports, perform musically, and took great pride in their many achievements. From tee ball to soccer, football, college sports, high school graduations, college graduations, musical gigs and performances, he was there to cheer them all on. Ben and Jane traveled to Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and throughout Southern California to attend sporting events and tournaments. During baseball season it was not uncommon for them to attend 8 games in one week. Ben also loved fishing, building radio-controlled airplanes, flying kites and coaching his daughter’s softball teams.

Ben truly loved being a Kearny Komet graduate. In honor of Ben, the Ben McClure (Class of 1959) Memorial Fund has been set up with the Kearny Komet Alumni Association. The scholarship program will support students attending vocational or trade school. To contribute to the Ben McClure Memorial Scholarship Fund go to the webpage online https://kearnyhighalumnistore.square.site/

Checks can be mailed to Kearny High School Alumni Association – P.O. Box 710700, San Diego, CA 92171-0700. Indicate Ben McClure in the memo field.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 12th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at El Cajon Mortuary, 684 S. Mollison Avenue, El Cajon, CA. Funeral mass, Saturday, March 13th at 11:00 a.m. at Mission San Diego de’ Alcala, located at 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego. COVID protocol required and social distancing available to accommodate 300 people.