Clyde Winfred Lagrone

Clyde passed away in his sleep early Monday morning March 18th, 2024, at age 91. He was ill a very short time and died unexpectedly from RSV and Pneumonia, complicated by Alzheimer’s. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Clyde was born August 14, 1932, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to parents Winfred Cooper (Kip) LaGrone and Geraldine Beason LaGrone, a gifted singer, who were both teachers. His early years were spent growing up in several small towns in both Oklahoma and Arkansas where his father was both a teacher and an Indian Agent with the government. Clyde enjoyed spending time with his maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Clyde Beason in Claremore, OK. He had a special bond with his grandfather and spent many holidays and vacations with his grandparents. Dr. Beason was a medical doctor and Clyde often went with him on patient house calls. They also spent many hours fishing together.

During WWII, his father was called into service. Clyde attended numerous schools during the War years due to his father’s military moves. Clyde’s brother, Lynn, was born in 1945. After the War, the family settled in Oklahoma City where Clyde attended high school. He was a straight A student, active in several sports, and lettered in four with baseball his favorite. Inheriting his mother’s vocal gift, he was also involved in theatre and sang lead in the musical, “Oklahoma”. At graduation in 1950, he received his appointment to West Point Military Academy. At West Point he was active in intramural sports and was a member of the West Point Choir. One highlight while there, was marching in President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade. Clyde also received the Distinguished Service medal for service during the Korean conflict. Clyde graduated with the Class of 1954 receiving a Civil Engineering degree along with a 2nd Lt. commission.

During his Army commission after West Point, Clyde completed both Army Ranger and Paratrooper training and became a rifle marksman. He spent the next year as a member of the Army Rifle Team and traveled the country competing in rifle matches. He earned numerous medals and trophies including the NRA Members Trophy in 1957. Later that year, Clyde honorably separated from the Army and joined the Army Reserves.

After his Army career, Clyde enrolled at Colorado University (CU) in Boulder where he earned his Aeronautical Engineering degree. His roommates (Tom Shew and Ted Ginsberg) became two of his lifelong friends. While at CU, Clyde spent a summer in Europe collaborating with European Universities inspecting their wind tunnel technologies for the CU Engineering Dept.

After graduating with his Aeronautical Engineering degree, Clyde joined the Martin Marietta Corp. in Denver. Clyde was employed in the Engineering Department at the Waterton campus. He was in charge of inspecting Martin’s Titan I missile sites, including Vandenberg Air Base in CA.

Clyde was an entrepreneur at heart. When his friends Tom and Ted asked him to be a partner in building yachts in Taiwan, Clyde dove in head first. That venture was eventually bought out by Chris-Craft.

In 1976, Clyde moved the family to Butte, MT, as the Director for the Center for Innovation with the new Montana Research and Development Institute (MRDI). Clyde was also deeply involved in the engineering for one of the first Magneto-hydrodynamics power plants under development in Butte under the MRDI umbrella. Additionally, Clyde spent many weeks in Washington DC working with Congress during the Carter Administration on funding for The Inventors Council and MHD along with energy legislation that stands to this day.

Clyde returned to Colorado in early 1981 after the family returned to Colorado in the fall of 1980 for the last two boy’s final years of high school. Back in Colorado, Clyde led the startup of his own small company, continuing the work he did at the CFI. Later, he became the Vice-President of another startup. He served on Governor Romer’s Inventor Council during the 1980’s and received the Colorado Small Business Award. Clyde was also a member of the Governor’s Small Business Council. During that time, he met with the Chinese business exchange delegation to develop new business in the state. In his later career, Clyde worked for the Marriott Corporation for 25 years and retired at the age of 83.

Clyde met his wife, Joan (Wheeler) Irvin, a widow with four small sons, while working for Martin Marietta at the Waterton campus. Joan was working there as a statistician at the time. Clyde and Joan were married March 3, 1962, in Englewood, CO. They had two more sons making a family of 6 boys.

Clyde fell in love with the Colorado outdoors and dry climate while at CU. He thoroughly enjoyed golfing, water skiing, camping, and fishing. So, the many years involved with his boys in Boy Scouts came naturally. They enjoyed fishing, camping and, of course, shooting. With the move to Montana, Clyde enjoyed fishing on the Jefferson River, just yards from the back of the house he and Joan designed and built. Clyde also loved football and was a lifelong fan of the game. He and Joan belonged to the Denver West Point Society traveling to several Army/Navy and Army/Airforce games over the years. GO ARMY!

Clyde and Joan enjoyed many trips together and with the family. Among his favorites was a six-week trip to the east coast to his West Point 15th class reunion. He purchased a Ford van and Coleman tent trailer for the trip with Joan and all six boys. They visited many historic sites, from Boston to Washington DC, and camped on Cape Cod, where the boys enjoyed digging for clams. Another favorite was a trip to Glacier with the clan after the move to Montana. On a trip to France, he located his LaGrone ancestors and he and Joan attended LaGrone family reunions in Texas.

With sons Tim in Alaska, Sean in California, and David in Nebraska, Clyde and Joan traveled to these states as often as possible. Clyde enjoyed teaching grandsons Zach and Andrew, in Omaha, how to fish and play bridge. He enjoyed spending all holidays and birthdays with his sons Mike, Brien, and Steven in Colorado and with their spouses Nita, Geri and Chris along with his grandchildren Jaime, Jenna, Nicole, Luke, Kyle, and Maren along with Geri’s extended family. But he was happiest when all the kids and grandkids made it home to these events or any other time.

In his later years, Clyde was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. However, he continued enjoying daily walks, reading, time with the family, and a game of bridge whenever possible. During his final two years, the first was spent at Highlands Trails Retirement community where he found many new friends. He met his friend Ken every morning for coffee and breakfast. Over the last year, his eyesight and hearing failed and the Alzheimer’s and dementia took a greater hold, robbing us all of the Clyde we knew and loved.

Clyde is preceded in death by his parents Winfred and Geraldine and brother Lynn. He is survived by his wife Joan of 62 years, sons Mike Irvin and wife Nita of Fort Collins, CO., Tim Irvin of Wasilla, AK., Brien Irvin and wife Geri of Broomfield, CO., Sean Irvin and partner Jon of Los Angles, CA., David LaGrone and wife Terry of Omaha, NE., Steven LaGrone and husband Chris of Brighton, CO., and eight grandchildren including Jaime (Irvin) Adams and husband Arnel, Jenna Irvin and partner Ryan, Nicole Templeton and partner Derrick, Zachery LaGrone, Andrew LaGrone and wife Julie, Luke Irvin, Kyle Irvin, Maren Irvin, and two great grandchildren Ryleigh Patrica Powell and Clyde Winfred LaGrone II (Win).

Clyde’s final resting place will be Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Oklahoma, close to his father Lt. Col. Winfred C (Kip) LaGrone also interred at Fort Gibson.