Roger B. McClellan
Roger Blair McClellan, 58, passed away at 7:10 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2012 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born on September 15, 1953 in Greencastle. He grew up on a small farm in Decatur County and discovered a love for the natural world and its creatures that would guide him throughout his life. He graduated from South Decatur High School in Westport in 1971 and later attained his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University in 1975.
He was married on December 20, 1985 to his loving wife and best friend, Lora (“Lolly”) with whom he shared his dreams and adventures creating memories to last a lifetime. He loved playing guitar for her, singing together and sharing their music, and spending time in the great outdoors.
He is survived by his wife; sister, Joyce Click and her family Steve, Nathan, and Tessa; and a brother, Mark McClellan and his family Juanita, Erin, and Martin. He will also be dearly missed by his step-son, Steve Rider and his family Jennifer, Brice and Dylan; and his step-daughter Melissa Taylor and her family David, Gavin, Raife, and Meric.
In addition to family, he has been blessed to have many wonderful friends in his life. He thoroughly enjoyed providing a comfortable place for friends and family to gather and visit, and he and his wife treasured having their friends and family near.
He had many hobbies and was quite skilled in working outdoors, golfing, canoeing, hunting, fishing, hiking, and in playing cards, pool and ping pong. We learned much from him in these areas and also in business.
He began his career in earnest in 1977 at CTS Corporation. He worked there in a variety of leadership roles in Arkansas, Illinois, California and Indiana; ultimately becoming their president and general manager for the Resistor Networks SBU division. Aside from a two-year stint at Wholesale Electric Service Company in 1990-1992, he worked at CTS until he left in 1993 to work at and eventually purchase and restructure Lafayette Instrument Company. There he served as the president and general manager alongside his partners, Chris Fausett and Terry Echard. The business has had the honor of being the preeminent supplier of polygraph throughout the world and provides specialty products to the department of defense counter terrorist units. The company also provides numerous products to the life science community for research on central nervous system disorders. With the help of his partners and employees, he considers the resurrection of Lafayette Instrument Company to be his greatest professional achievement.
He served on several local non-profit and business related committees and boards with a special involvement in Pheasants Forever. He worked tirelessly to provide wildlife habitat and felt that was the best gift he could give to his community.
He was a member of the Scardinia Baptist Church for most of his life but more recently became a member of the Fowler First Presbyterian Church.
Roger, we will miss your smile, your wit, your kind heart, and your incredible mind. You’ll always be with us.
Friends will be received from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13 at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd, Lafayette, IN 47909 and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, July 14 at Fowler First Presbyterian Church, 501 E. 6th St., Fowler, IN 47944. Officiating will be Rev. Ann Williams. Burial will take place at Fowler Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, Inc. at www.abc2.org
Arrangements provided by Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc. in Lafayette. Online condolences may be made at www.soller-baker.com.
