Dr. Charles S. McClain May 29, 1929 - January 28, 2019

Dr. Charles S. McClain, 89, of Macungie, passed away at Lehigh Center Monday, January 28, 2019.  He was the beloved husband of Veralee (Hardenburg) McClain to whom he was married for 63 years last August 20^th. Born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, May 29, 1929, he was the son of the late Earl F. and Mary (Mathews) McClain. Charles was a graduate of Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio, received his master’s degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY. Before retiring in 1995, he was a professor of music, head of the music department, choir director and college organist at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, for 25 years.  He oversaw the design of the organ for Egner Memorial Chapel and was acting dean of the college in 1974-75. Previously he held positions at Wooster College, Waterloo Lutheran University in Waterloo, Ontario, Morningside College in Sioux City, IA and as a church organist for St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario and Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City.  Charles was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Emmaus. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, where he served as a chaplain’s assistant. He was a longtime member of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. Charles will be remembered as a gentleman who loved the music of Bach, had a passion for teaching and getting to know his students, enjoyed studying genealogy and most importantly spending time with his family.

Survivors: Wife; daughter, Marjorie of Gaithersburg, MD; sons, Phillip and wife Janet Hartery of New Canaan, CT and Stephen and wife Anna Wonaschuetz of Vienna, Austria; grandchildren Joseph, Christopher, and Mariah Hartery McClain, and Charles Maximilian McClain. He was predeceased by a brother Robert McClain and a sister Laura Graham.

Services:  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 2 in the Egner Memorial Chapel on the campus of Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown. A reception will be held at Hoffman House, 325 N. 23rd St. immediately following the service. Arrangements are by Stephens Funeral Home Inc., Allentown. www.stephensfuneral.com. Interment will follow at a later date at East Lawn Cemetery, Ithaca, NY.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Muhlenberg College, Attention: Office of Advancement, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown 18104 or the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 3461 South Cedar Crest Boulevard, Emmaus, 18049.