John Howard McClellan

John was born on September 11, 1936, in Eldorado, Arkansas, to Jimmy and Sudie McClellan. His family later moved to Houston, where he attended Sam Houston High School and began building a life defined by hobbies, determination, and a drive to figure things out for himself.

On September 2, 1960, he married Patricia Alsbrook in Houston, Texas. Their marriage was the foundation of his life, and together they built a family and a home filled with music, where summer road trips were a staple of life.

John began his career as a service technician for IBM. He later went on to design automation control systems for the oil and gas industry, where his problem-solving ability and technical skill stood out. He also played a role in the translation computer system used by NASA during the joint U.S-Soviet space station mission, contributing to a unique moment in space exploration. He also proudly served in the United States Coast Guard.

Outside of work, John had a passion for racing sprint cars—and he didn’t just race them, he built them himself. He also enjoyed designing houses and personally designed two of the homes he and Patricia lived in. He loved singing in church, where his deep, booming voice was well known to the congregation.

Those who knew John will remember his strong will, his love of singing, his passion for racing, and his knack for cooking some truly unique meals.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, and his son, Howard.

John is survived by his son, Rick McClellan; his daughter, Hollie McClellan; his daughter-in-law, Phyllis McClellan; and his grandchildren, Jessica McClellan, Kathryn Sawyer, and Michael McClellan. He leaves behind a family who will carry his memory with them in the years ahead.