Academic Excellence
MSU mourns the loss of retiree Claude Meade
Morehead State retiree Claude Edward Meade of Morehead died Monday, April 13, at St. Claire HealthCare at the age of 80. Born October 9, 1939, in Floyd County, he was the son of the late William Madison and Pearl Spivey Meade. Meade joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and served in active duty for ten years, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam and earning the rank of command sergeant major. He received his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his master's degree in 1974, both from MSU. While he was a student, Meade founded the MSU Student Veterans Club and was the cadet commander and a founding member of MSU's Army ROTC program. He retired from MSU in 1993 as director of circulation at the Camden-Carroll Library.
He was a founding member of the Rowan County Veterans Foundation serving on the Veterans Wall and Veterans Park Committees. In addition to his service on committees and boards, Meade was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Morehead and spent many hours assisting local veterans by driving them to their VA appointments and helping them with claims. In 2014, Meade was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class. He was a member of the Phelps Masonic Lodge, Morehead Shrine Club and El Hasa Shrine Temple in Ashland.
Meade is survived by his wife of 52 years, Roberta Moore Meade; one daughter, Shawn Meade (John) Justice of Morehead; one son, Claude Wesley (Kim) Meade of Port Charlotte, Florida; one granddaughter, Brittney Justice (Matthew) Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio; three grandsons, Madison (Cameron) Justice of Morehead and Zach and Zane Meade of Port Charlotte, Florida; one great-granddaughter, Ella Blue Smith; and one sister, Gertrude Chateauvert of Taylor, Michigan. A private family graveside service and burial will be held at Ditney Cemetery on Thursday, April 16, 2020, with Rev. Charles Moore officiating. A Celebration of Life with military honors will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy, 110 Conn Terrace, Lexington, KY 40508 or the Corbie Ellington Post 126 American Legion, P. O. Box 58, Morehead, KY 40351.
Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals is caring for arrangements.
Bottom Photo: MSU Veterans Club, 1969, pictured left to right: Alan Mikitarian, Claude Meade, J.R. Harris, William Hollar, Ed Frederick, Doug Copenhefer, Stuart Owens, Claris Chullen and John Chullen. (1969 MSU Raconteur)
