Clarence "Clancy" Leonard Bostian, Jr. , 83, of Spencer passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center from heedless complications following surgery. He died surrounded by his family and with the strength and dignity he possessed throughout his life.
He was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, October 28, 1932 to the late Clarence Leonard Bostian, Jr. and Vergie Cranford Bostian.
In his early years, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he earned the degree of Eagle Scout at age twelve. He was a graduate of Boyden High School, class of 1951, where he played coronet in the marching band and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his classmates. His dream was to attend Duke University to become a doctor, but winning the prestigious Erlanger Scholarship at North Carolina State University put him in the business of textile research and development. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology from NCSU and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Clancy served in the Army in the Philippines during the "Cold War" in the area of Army Intelligence and then returned to Salisbury where he worked for Piedmont Mill Supply. He then moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he began his textile career with Bancroft Corporation and then to New York City to work with United Merchants and Manufacturers, Inc.
He developed fibers and designed fabrics and holds five patents for his work. He also designed fibers and clothing fabric for famed designers such as Stan Herman, Anne Klein and Rudy Gernreich. Later he traveled across the United States, Canada and Mexico working as a textile consultant. After leaving New York, he moved to Gastonia to help open Smyre Textile Mill.
Clancy was a Renaissance man who excelled in whatever he chose to pursue whether it be cooking, singing, dancing, plumbing, building boats and mechanical toys for his children or electrical work. He was a lover of fine things: Good German food, music and art. He loved his family, his friends, and his church and was dearly loved back by all who knew him.
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| Ann and Clancy at the 45th class reunion in 2006 |
At the time of his death, he was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where he was a member of the Martin Luther Sunday School Class, the St. John's Men's Chorus, the Golden Opportunity Club, was a lay reader for services, had served on various committees and the Church Council.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were two children Clarence Leonard "Lenny" Bostian, III (1964-1985) and Melissa Ruth Bostian (1969-1970).
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ann Stoner Bostian, whom he married June 22, 2008; daughter, Ilona Bostian Bastidas and husband, Arthur of Athens, Georgia; daughter, Lynne Kepley Robinson and husband, Doug of Salisbury; granddaughter, Helayna Bostian; great-grandchildren, Leviticus "Levi" Price Bostian and Illyra Adrianne Money all of Salisbury.
Visitation and Service: There will be a service of celebration of his life at St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 West Innes Street, Salisbury, North Carolina on Monday, October 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends in Peeler Hall (St. John's Faith Center) from 12:00 to 1:30 pm prior to the funeral. Burial will be in the Christiana Lutheran Church cemetery beside his parents and children.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his memory to go to St. John's Lutheran Church, Generation2Generation Building Fund, 200 West Innes Street, Salisbury, North Carolina 28144 or to Athens Canine Rescue, PO Box 7064, Athens, Georgia 30604.
Powles Staton Funeral Home is assisting the Bostian family.
