Cletus “Clete” Edward Strausbaugh, 90, passed away August 30, 2020, in Mesa, Arizona. Formally of Glen Rock, PA., Clete was born October 2, 1929 in Seven Valleys, PA. He was the son of the late John and Isabella (Knadig) Strausbaugh.
Clete was the husband of Patricia (Stover) Strausbaugh. They celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on July 29, 2020.
After serving as Sargent in the United States Army, in the Korean War, Clete was an auto body mechanic for his late eldest brother Joseph Strausbaugh before building his own auto body shop in Glen Rock and venturing into the world of self-employment. He was owner/operator of Cletus Strausbaugh Body Shop in Glenrock, PA., for over 30 years.
Clete enjoyed relaxing at the beach at Puerto Peñasco Mexico, laughing and joking with friends and family, helping his neighbors with home repairs, and tinkering with cars and golf carts. Before making a permanent move to Mesa in 2005, Clete and Pat were members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Freedom PA.
In addition to his wife, Clete is survived by his 3 children, Stephanie McLaughlin and her husband, Douglas Hamilton, of College Park MD; Patricia Loring, her husband Mark, and their 2 daughters, Sarah and Tabitha, of Mesa AZ; and Michael Strausbaugh and his partner Kathy Yeatter, of Glen Rock PA, from his late first wife, Lorraine (Markey) Strausbaugh. Clete is also survived by his step-daughter Jane Andre and her husband Philip of New Freedom PA and his step-son Patrick “Beaver” Nolan and his wife Anita of Greencastle, PA.
Clete grew up in a family of 5 boys and is survived by his 2 brothers, Herman Strausbaugh of York PA and John Strausbaugh of Glen Rock PA. He was also the brother of the late Joseph Strausbaugh of Glen Rock PA and the late Austin Strausbaugh of Seven Valleys PA.