Age 87, passed away on February 28, 2010 at the Stoneleigh Hospice of Lansing. Arlo Sheridan LeClear was born May 16, 1922 in St. Johns, MI to Frank Henry LeClear and Berenice Lorraine (Creaser) LeClear, the first-born of 3 sons.  Arlo graduated from St. Johns High School in 1940, and on March 11, 1942 enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  After the war he couldn’t keep his eyes off of nurse Betty Marie Plowman of St. Johns - or get her off of his mind - and they were married on June 19, 1948 in Durand, MI.  He and Betty were blessed with children Sherri Candace in 1955 and David Winston in 1956.

Arlo worked for Launderwell Corp. for 55 years, as the service manager traveling the Midwest, and totally and finally retired in 2001.  He grew up during the Depression and understood hard work, small rewards, and great satisfaction.  He had the mechanical understanding of an engineer, the love of flight, and loved tinkering with all other things mechanical.  Arlo will be remembered by his friends as a master woodworker.  He could determine the nature of a piece of wood just by the feel of its grain, and its weight.  He can now be found in God’s woodworking shop in heaven fabricating another masterpiece - and if anything breaks down in Heaven, Arlo will be there to fix it.  Above all, he was a doting husband, father, grandfather, and homeowner.

Grateful for sharing Arlo’s life are his wife of 61 years, Betty; daughter, Sherri (Kevin) King of Holt; son, David of Hudson, FL; brother, Melvin (Elizabeth Young) of Owensboro, KY; grandchildren, Robert (Sarah Godbehere) Roosa, Nick Roosa of Holt, Thyme, Arlo, Jeremiah, and Mandolyn LeClear of Florida; stepgrandchildren, Jay King of Arlington, VA, and Katie King of Rock Hill, SC; and numerous loving in-laws, nieces and nephews.  Arlo was preceded in death by his parents, and infant brother Winston.

The funeral service will be on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel at 2121 N. Cedar Street in Holt, with burial following at the Maple Ridge Cemetery on Willoughby Road in Holt.  Visitation with family will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials of any sort should be made to the Holt United Methodist Church in Arlo’s name.