Robert Clark McLaughlin

5 November 1933 - 28 February 2019

Corky was the second born in Minot North Dakota to Robert Otto McLaughlin (b.1912-d.1970) and Bulah Gwilt McLaughlin (b.1912-d.2010). His older sister Donna L. McLaughlin Elsberry Partridge died last year (b.1931-d.2018) in Florida.

He leaves behind his immediate family, his wife of 63 years Beverly Joan Rabideau McLaughlin. His sons Robert Clark Jr., Thomas O. and Richard Roland and his daughter Tamera Ann. His grandchildren are Paige McLaughlin is the daughter of Thomas, Michael and Kyle are the sons of Richard.

His in-laws are Gary Rabideau and his wife Karen, from Plattsburgh New York, their children Kimberly Rabideau Chamberlain and Stephan, Grant Rabideau is from Plattsburgh New York. Sister-in-law Sandy Rabideau Klyber her late husband Charles Klyber from Springfield Illinois and their children are Kevin, Korby, Karla and Kimee. Richard and his wife Dixie from Springfield Illinois, their children are Douglas, Bonnie, Janelle and their late sons Tim and Gary. Roland Rabideau and his wife Eta, their children are John, Dan and Jackie.

His Nephew John Elsberry is from Florida and his brother James A. Elsberry preceded him in death in 2011.

Corky was born at the depths of the great depression in the same year that Fascism started to infect Europe. Like most children stateside, he went without many things to support the war effort. Two of his three uncles enlisted and their tour of duty was in the pacific theater during WWII. He was 12 years old when the World War ended.

He dropped out of North Dakota State Teachers College go to US Air Force basic flight training school and jet pilot training. Upon completion in April 1955 at Webb AFB, Texas he received his commission and assigned to the Strategic Air Command. He flew many airplanes including the T-5, C-45, C-47, B-26, B-47 and finished his flying career in the FB-111 but his favorite by far was the B-58 “Hustler” a Mach 2 Strategic Bomber that held many speed records up until the SR-17 “Blackbird”. At the end of the Southeast Asian conflict from 1974 to 1975 he was stationed in Udorn, Thailand. He was the Director of Operations to the Military Assistance advisory group that administered 30 million dollars in assistance program to the Royal Laos Air Force. His evaluations noted his outstanding efforts, especially concerning the evacuation of American citizens and military personnel from the deteriorating political chaos. It was noted that he led as many as five sorties a day evacuating people.

He spent 25 years and 9 months in active service before being Honorably Discharged in 1979.

After his discharge, he used his MBA as a Chief Finance Officer to many small companies including plastics and healthcare companies. In his last years of his life, he was incapacitated by his pain and immobility. Many contributed to his home care but his second son Thomas gave up his career to be a stay at home caretaker for his parents. He promised dad he would not place him in an “old folk’s home”. He died of complications arising from Parkinson’s disease.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 6th from 2:00-4:00 & 6:00-8:00pm at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home. Graveside services and military honors will be at 1:00pm on Thursday, March 7th at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.