Clyde M. Brubaker II

Clyde M. Brubaker II

Clyde M. Brubaker II, 94, of Litchfield, IL, passed away early Sunday morning April 3, 2016.  

Clyde was born on July 20, 1921, in Litchfield, IL, the second of five sons born to Clyde M. and Helen (Costello) Brubaker, Sr. He grew up in Litchfield, graduated from Litchfield High School in 1939 and went on to attend the College of Commerce at the University of Illinois for two years. In 1941 Clyde moved to San Diego, CA, and worked for Consolidated Aircraft, manufacturing the B-24 Bomber Aircraft and the PBY Catalina Flying Boat.  While there he would watch the Army Aviation Cadets flying their Ryan Trainers at the same airfield where he worked.  This, along with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, inspired Clyde to return home to Litchfield, where he arrived to enlist as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps (the forerunner of the United States Air Force).

Clyde was immediately accepted for pilot training and shipped out to Texas and Oklahoma, where he received his basic and pilot training (and his pilot’s wings). Soon after the Army Air Corps sent Clyde to England.  There he served as a B-26 Martin Marauder Bomber Pilot, assisting the war effort by flying 65 missions over Nazi targets in Western Europe.  He sustained substantial shrapnel injuries during a bombing raid, spent three weeks in an English hospital, and then returned to full pilot service in the European Campaign.  Clyde felt extremely proud of his military war service, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Twelve Oak Leaf Clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart.

After Clyde’s distinguished World War II military service, he returned home to Litchfield, and with his brother Don, joined their father in the family automobile business. Clyde M. Brubaker, Sr. started Brubaker Motor Company in 1915, and the Brubaker family has served the community for over 100 years. It is now in its third generation.

Clyde met his sweetheart, Jocelyn Gilly, while she was working at the soda fountain of a local Litchfield drugstore. He would visit often and she would make him her best milkshakes (adding a little extra ice cream for the handsome war veteran). Clyde and “Jody”, as she was known, soon fell in love, got engaged and then married on May 10, 1946.  The couple had two children, Clyde III, and Jan, whom they raised in Litchfield. 

Clyde took great pride in his community and served in many ways; he was a major influence on the creation of the Litchfield Municipal Airport, which is still in operation today, serving greater Montgomery County. Clyde was an active member of Litchfield’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #3912, and always enjoyed not only riding in local parades but also relating his World War II experiences to his children, grandchildren, civic groups and students in the area.

Clyde and Jody enjoyed spending time on the family's rural property, working with their horses, planting wild flowers, building birdhouses and gardening.  He was for many years an avid golfer as well.  But probably his greatest pride and enjoyment came from doting on his family, having visits with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and receiving their admiration and love.

Clyde is survived by his son, Clyde M. (Cathy) Brubaker III of Litchfield, and his daughter, Jan (Rob) Mathis of Seattle, WA, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, brothers Dick Brubaker of Kewanee, IL, and Jake (Sue) Brubaker of Rockford, IL, sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Mike Funk of Litchfield, sister-in-law Dorothy Brubaker of North Carolina, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jody, brothers Don and Marty Brubaker and sister-in-law Ruth Brubaker.

Visitation for friends will take place at Litchfield Family Funeral Service Wednesday, April 6 at 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. A private family funeral follows at 2:00 pm.

The family requests any donations made go to the Veteran’s Memorial Garden Fund.

To view the online guestbook and leave condolences, please visit litchfieldffs.com

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