Robert Burton McCleery

Robert Burton McCleery of Delaware, Ohio died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Presidential Post Acute Care in Marion after an extended illness. He was born October 17, 1950, in Warren, PA to the Rev. John B. McCleery and Erla Moore McCleery. One of seven siblings, the family moved frequently due to his father’s ministry, living in numerous towns and cities throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science Education degree from Clarion State College (now PennWest Clarion) in 1973. Following a year of teaching in Maryland, he returned to the Clarion area and met his future wife, Dawn Smith McCleery at church. They married on April 9, 1977, in Penn Hills, PA and moved to Oil City, PA. Bob worked in R & D for Conair Group in Franklin, PA, later moving into customer service. In 1988, Bob and Dawn moved to Marion, Ohio so she could begin working at the public library there. After several different jobs, Bob was hired in the Animal Sciences division of Battelle Memorial Institute that same year and remained there until retirement in 2007. They welcomed the birth of their daughter, Maureen, late in 1988 as well.

Robert enjoyed woodworking and remodeling/restoring old houses. He was very proud of his Viking, Celtic, and Scotch-Irish heritage and enjoyed listening to folk music, especially the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, the Chieftains, and other folk music performers. The highlight of his life came when he and his family vacationed in Ireland in 2005. He tried his hand at many different hobbies: guitar playing, repair, and building guitars, cameras and photography, Shaker boxes, and dabbling in painting and drawing.

Robert is survived by his wife and daughter; sisters Eunice Vega Patton, Erla Jean Sanden (Merlin), Dorcas Barr and a brother, John (Melissa) McCleery as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. In addition, he is remembered by his wife’s family: Brian (Julie) Smith, Valerie (Chris) Downey, and Cindy (Bob) Delmanto and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Judy Lunney and Nancy Miller; brothers-in-law Mike Vega, Gene Lunney, David Miller, and Mark Barr. In keeping with Bob’s wishes, no service will be held but a family gathering will be held at a later date. Internment of his ashes will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Crawford County, PA.