Anne Elizabeth's parents were Adomas (Adam) John Preidis (1874-1930) and Elizabeth Madeline Silinsky (1876-1959).

Bert married (2) December 1, 1984 Sue Ellen Herbert, born September 10, 1939.

Bert Lynch McClanahan was born September 6, 1913 in Springfield, Ohio, the third child of James Franklin McClanahan and Virgie Lee McMillen and their first son. He grew up in Springfield, West Union, Manchester, and Hillsboro, Ohio. He graduated from Hillsboro High School May 20, 1932.

In 1919 in the space of about 10 weeks time he lost his Mother, Virgie Lee McMillen McClanahan; his maternal Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Foster Miller, February 14, 1919; and his paternal Grandmother, Sarah Margaret Zercher McClanahan, March 13, 1919. He was not quite 5 ½ years old, his brother James Frank just 4. His sister Besse Marie left home for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, so Bert, James and their father, James Franklin, were left to fend for themselves. They moved numerous times during the next few years. His wife, Anne Elizabeth Preidis, would later tell the story that when they married, Bert told her he didn't want to eat beans. When he was ready to, he would let her know. He said when he was young all they had to eat were beans out of a can, 3 meals a day.

He always enjoyed swimming and when he was about 85 he admitted one of the dumbest things he ever did was swim across the Ohio River and back. Said he was about 16 and found the narrowest place he could.

After high school he attended Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio for 3 years. He lived in a boarding house and worked as a waiter at one of the dorms to help pay his way. He sent his laundry to his aunt and uncle (Spencer Ferd and Curvie Weir McMillen) in Alliance, Ohio.

He moved to Columbus and started Dental School at the Ohio State University. He completed one quarter and ran out of money. He was forced to quit school and went to work for Omar Bakery delivering bread in the Godown Road, Gables Dairy and Case Road areas of northwest Columbus. He met his future wife, Anne Elizabeth Preidis at Omar, she was a secretary in the office. He introduced himself and said no one could ever spell his name. She rattled it right off so the standing joke was he figured he better marry her since she could spell his name. They were married October 5, 1940 in the rectory of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio.

Bert continued at Omar and after much urging by Anne he returned to Dental School, 10 years after he was forced to quit. The college did not make him repeat that first quarter. He joined Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity and made many life long friends. He was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary and received the Callahan Award presented to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average. During his senior year in clinic he worked on the wives of several faculty members. He graduated in 1948 and started practicing in downtown Columbus.

In 1956 he moved his office to Clintonville, a neighborhood in north Columbus where he practiced until his retirement in 1996. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, the Columbus Dental Society and a Past President of the Central Ohio Academy of Dental Practice Administration. He was also a member of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry Alumni Association, Ohio State University Presidents Club and Civitan Club of North Columbus.

His only child, Carol Anne McClanahan was born May 1, 1950. He taught me patience to fish even though I wouldn't bait my own hook. He taught me how to garden and dig in the dirt, love tomatoes and flowers, hunt for bittersweet and buckeyes in the fall, visit the library for stacks of books. He taught me the value of hard work, always treat people as you want to be treated and don't waste time. He asked nothing of you that he didn't ask of himself, he was an exacting taskmaster and expected nothing but your best.

One of the few times I knew him to be speechless was when I read him my acceptance letter from the OSU College of Dentistry in 1971. I know he was extremely proud that his daughter followed in his footsteps. We practiced together from 1990 until his retirement in 1996.

His first wife, Anne Elizabeth Preidis, died January 1, 1973. He married Sue Ellen Herbert December 1, 1984.

He enjoyed reading, especially about the Civil War and The Wall Street Journal. He liked to go fishing in Canada each summer, to Michigan for salmon and Lake Erie for walleye. He was an Ohio State football fan and a member of the Ohio State Presidents Club. In the late 70s he started traveling to Hawaii and enjoyed visiting the islands for many years.

He died February 19, 2001 following a brief illness. His funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

Bert & Anne (Preidis) McClanahan 1962

He is preceded in death by his first wife Anne, grandson Scott M. Gillespie and sister Besse M. Sproull. He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Dr. Carol M. Gillespie; grandson, Michael Gillespie; brother, James (Beulah) McClanahan; sister-in-law, Janet (David) Martin; father-in-law, David Herbert, both of Dresden, Oh.; brother-in-law, Frank Preidis of Columbus; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends may call Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the NOVAK FUNERAL HOME, 4476 N. High St. (2 blocks north of Henderson Rd.), 268-8811. His Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Churech, 20 E. Dominon Blvd. Msgr. Frank Lane and Fr. Robert Gonzales Concelebrants. Interment Union Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Ohio State University College of Denistry, 305 W. 12th Ave., P.O. Box 182357, Columbus, Oh. 43218.

Only child of Bert Lynch McClanahan and Anne Elizabeth Preidis:

G1 Carol Anne McClanahan, born May 1, 1950.