Ronald “Keith” McClung
Ronald “Keith” McClung was born in Frederick, Oklahoma on May 9, 1937 to Ralph and Maxine McClung. In 1948 he moved to Oklahoma City where he graduated from Capitol Hill High School and went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma in 1959 with a B.S. in Physics. It was also in Oklahoma City where he met and started dating Patricia Ann Johnson (Pat) at the age of 16. Keith and Pat became engaged, married on August 2, 1957. The things that were most important to Keith were his faith, family, friends, and helping build the nation’s human space program.
Keith started his career with Hughes Aircraft and Litton Industries in Southern California. In 1965, Keith accepted a position with North American Aircraft/Rockwell where he found his true passion in the formative years of NASA’s Apollo program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Keith enjoyed significant success at Rockwell and Boeing, working on the Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and Space Station programs up until his retirement in 1998.
After retirement, Pat and Keith bought a farm in Flatonia, Texas. They loved having kids, grandkids, and friends out on the weekends for fishing, shooting, riding 4-wheelers, bonfires, exploring, and taking care of the animals. Keith saw those times as a frequent source of “a million little blessings” every day.
Pat and Keith had leadership roles in Young Life for most of their adult lives. They loved ministering to young adults, and helping start Young Life in the Clear Lake area was one of Keith’s proudest achievements. They also helped establish three new churches in the Clear Lake area and made many lifelong Christian friends along the way.
Keith is survived by his wife Pat, sons Kip McClung and Scott McClung (Lori), grandchildren Sean Cotterell (Carli), Kate Tomi (Jeff), Megan Rogers (Derek), Lindsey McClung, Madison McClung, McKenzie McClung and Kevin McClung, and seven great grandchildren (Cason, Coda, Olivia, Truett, Staton, Greyson, and Scottie Lynn). Keith is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Maxine McClung, brother Gary McClung, son Michael McClung, and daughter Kristy Cotterell.
A celebration of Keith’s life will be held on Saturday, July 20th, 2024 at 11:00 at the First Methodist Church of Dickinson, 200 FM 517 Road West, 77539. We have been notified that the I-45S and FM 517 intersection will be closed Saturday. It might be best to exit FM 646 and go west. Take a left on FM 517 and First Methodist Church will be on the right prior coming to I-45.
A reception will follow at 1:00 at the Village of Tuscan Lakes Club House, 1610 Tuscan Lakes Dr., League City, Texas 77573. There is a gate at the entrance to the community. The gate might be open but if not, use the entrance on the right. There will be a keypad to use and enter the gate code 5139. Lunch and drinks will be provided.
In lieu of flowers Keith would love for donations be made to
Young life
https://giving.younglife.org/s/?utm_source=Web…
Or to
First United Methodist Church in Dickinson
https://www.dickinsonfirst.org/giving/
My sincere condolences to the family. Keith was my first manager at Rockwell when I arrived in Texas in 1984 and was not only a wonderful boss but a great man. He will be truly missed by his family and friends and I am very blessed that I was able to work with him in the Manned Space Program and we got to be friends. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
I will always remember Keith as a dedicated, good-hearted friend and associate. He wore his love for Pat and the entire family as a badge of pride. His contributions and leadership serving several space programs have left a high mark for all of us who were his teammates over many years.
Keith was one of the first people I met when I started with Rockwell and was also a positive influence on me and my aerospace career. Without his faith in my ability and his constant support I would not have been able to achieve my success. He also taught me not to be so serious and let humor, or at least a smile pave the way. He and Pat were the perfect team and I will always be grateful to have had them in my life.
I enjoyed interfacing with Keith when I worked at Rockwell during the Shuttle Proposal and Contract. He was a fun loving guy who was a professional in his job. Sorry to hear about his passing. Sympathy and prayers to his wife Pat and family. God bless you all and console you each day.
Pat, Charlotte and I offer our sympathy on your loss. Keith was a remarkable Friend and co-worker and I enjoyed our times together when we discussed our careers working at NASA and SAIC. Keith was a great manager and leader.
Grandpa-Keith, as he introduced himself to me, had an incredible gift to make you (or anyone he met) feel important and special. I met Grandpa-Keith through his very loved granddaughter Kate (my sister-in-law). My family is so blessed to have known, listen to stories and love Grandpa-Keith. His love for Grandma-Pat and his family was so evident and his faith and passion for a Christ center life was a true example. He will be so missed but never forgotten. Sending love and prayers to all that knew him and impacted, especially his family.
To the Mcclung’s,
I’m so sorry for the loss of Keith. He was a fun loving man with a big heart. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
The Sted family
I was able to work with Keith for many years during Apollo and later programs. He was always kind and a great friend. His work with the youth of the area will reap eternal rewards for many. Rest in His arms my friend.
Back in 1997, I awoke on a Monday morning and found myself to be a Boeing employee. I was immediately sent over to work on something called CSOC. My association with Keith was purely through CSOC although we’d occasionally cross paths afterward; usually while dining out on a Friday night. All I can remember is his great, friendly personality. Sending my condolences to Keith’s family.
Keith was an incredibly helpful and positive person whom I will always remember helped me when I really needed it. I am grateful to learn so many positive things happened to him and his family after retiring. God Bless Keith.
Steve-
seems like 100 years ago NASA fussed at the STSOC structure and all the struggles we had…Hope you are doing well…
tom
I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Mr. McClung was always smiling and had positive things to say every time I interacted with him when seeing him in the halls at NASA or LM. I feel very blessed to have known him. My condolences to the family.
Keith was a fine and well respected leader in our days of RSOC and USA. I remember him as a kind and friendly gentleman who would take the time to talk with anyone and offer help wherever he could. So sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayers for the entire family. God bless.
I’m so sorry to just be hearing this news that Keith has passed, and I’m sad to have missed his celebration of life. I worked with Keith for many years at both Rockwell Space Systems Contract and then at United Space Alliance. He was a true and genuine good man. I always admired his good nature, his business sense and his jovial personality. Truly a great man who leaves behind a legacy he could be proud of. To the family, my biggest prayers for you as you begin this new journey in the absence of your patriarch. Hod bless you all.G
I am so sorry we have lost a wonderful, kind, funny and inspirational man that influenced those in which he came in touch. I so admired him, and it is obvious his joy and morals are instilled in his children, as evidenced by my time working with Kip. He is gone but definitely remains a part of this world thru family and friends.
So sorry to hear of Keith’s passing. My condolences to Pat and the family. Keith was one of my favorite Managers/Directors to work with in Rockwell and USA.He was so kind and loving of people. He will be missed by many.
To Pat and the entire family,
Deed and I are so sorry we could not be at the service for Keith. He was truly larger than life, with a wonderful sense of humor, and a great love for his family. He also was one of the first we met when Deed joined Rockwell and made both of us feel welcome. He will be missed. You are in our prayers.
I’m very saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. McKlung. I was very fortunate to have known and worked with him during our Rockwell and USA days on the Shuttle program. He was such a kind and thoughtful man. Kip, as well as the rest of your family, I’m send my deepest condolences.
Barbara Grimes
Keith and Pat had a lasting impact on me when growing up in Nassau Bay with their daughter, Kristy. Both were our Young Life in those days as we didn’t have a local chapter in the 70’s. Invested in the lives of all youth that crossed their path. Always welcoming. Always concerned. Keith was a phenomenal example of a man, father, husband and friends. He will be missed; however, Keith’s faith lives on in those of us fortunate enough to live in his shadow. “By faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” (Heb.11:4)
Steve Young