James Wilson McClain

James Wilson McClain, born on Dec. 20, 1918 in Dubuque, IA and a resident of Torrance for nearly 60 years, passed away on April 8, 2011. He graduated from Columbia Academy in 1936 and attended Loras College prior to his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Jim married his hometown sweetheart Katy Ryan at Dow Field in Bangor, ME in 1944 and after a brief time living in Dubuque, Jim and Katy moved to Torrance to raise their five children. He was an active member of Nativity Catholic Church, serving as an officer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society which assisted the area’s poor and needy. In the 1960s he was instrumental in helping to settle hundreds of Cuban refugees to new homes in the Torrance area. He worked for 30 years as a mechanical engineer for Midland Rubber and Shell Chemical and Oil until his retirement in 1982. Jim was a gentle and compassionate man known for his devotion to Katy and their kids and grandkids. He was an avid golfer, starting as a teen-aged caddy and playing until he was 89. He enjoyed travelling, especially road and camping trips, and spending time reminiscing under the lemon tree in his back yard on Amapola Avenue. Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Kathleen R. McClain; his brother Leonard McClain of Dubuque; sons Pat, Mike and Dan McClain; daughters Susan Wells and Ann Guerra; sons-and -daughters-in-law Claudia McClain, Kathleen Quinn, Leonard Wells, Felicia McClain and Mario Guerra; and grandchildren Tim and Caitlin McClain, Sean and Anthony Wells, Megan and Monica McClain and Mario, Lynne, Matt, Haley and Ryan Guerra. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Halverson, Stone & Myers Mortuary, 1223 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, on Friday, April 15, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. with the Rosary service commencing at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. will be held at Nativity Catholic Church, 1447 Engracia Ave, Torrance, on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 Western Avenue, Rancho Palos Verdes. Please visit the mortuary's website, www.halversonstonemyers.com to send the family messages, share memories, or to obtain directions to the services.

Arrangements under the direction of Halverson, Stone & Myers Mortuary, Torrance, CA.