George "Bud" E. Mcclelland

George E. "Bud" McClelland, of Bluffton, SC, formerly of South SeaSide Park, NJ, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2023 at his residence following a long illness.  He was born on May 14, 1934, in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of the late George Gidman McClelland and Florence May Bennett McClelland.  He graduated from Wood-Ridge High School in 1951, and later Rider College.  He served in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman 2nd Class on the USS Dogfish  (SS-350), a Balao-class submarine, from 1953 to 1957, earning the Good Conduct Medal and the Navy Occupational Service Medal (European), and in 2005 earned membership in the Holland Club.

He was a member of Unaminity Lodge #418 of Hilton Head Island, SC, past member of Princeton Lodge #38, Princeton, NJ,  Past President of Lions Club of West Windsor, NJ, a member of the Seneca, SC Lions Club, American Legion Post 205, Navy League of Hilton Head Island and a Volunteer with USO South Carolina.  He retired after a long and varied career in business and education and with his devoted wife Cynthia enjoyed many cruises on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  He was a natural musician with perfect pitch who could play just about any instrument and especially enjoyed playing the ukelele with community groups and visiting local nursing homes.

Bud was predeceased by his parents and his sister Dorothy Edith McClelland Rothe and her husband Raymond Rothe.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years Cynthia Anne Zavacky McClelland.  Also surviving are his son Jack A. McClelland and wife Denise of Carlsbad, CA; son Glenn G. McClelland and wife Tracy of Lambertville, NJ; grandchildren Charles G. McClelland and Cori R. McClelland, and several cousins and nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.   Memorials may be made to Friends of Caroline Hospice, website: fochospice.org, 329 Friends Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936, (843) 525-6257.