Charles Raymond Clinard, Jr.

Mr. Charles R. Clinard Jr. "Charlie," 83, of Heritage Woods Retirement Home,
Apt. 225, 3812 Forrestgate Drive, Winston-Salem, died July 29, 2003, at the Kate
B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He was born March 4, 1920, in Winston-Salem, to
Charles R. Clinard Sr. and Lestie Sink Clinard.

Mr. Clinard was a member of Trinity Moravian Church and joined the church band
at a young age. He played in the orchestra and sang in the choir and was a
longtime member of the Salem Band. He contributed much of his musical talent in
the church and played the piano for his Sunday school class. Mr. Clinard
composed an opera as well as other musical compositions. He wrote a hymn, "Jesus
Friend of Sinners" and wrote the music to Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar." He
wrote one of the first books for "Accordion Instructions." A popular song that
he composed, "It's Gray Skies Tonight" was arranged for Shirley Smith's
Orchestra by B.C. Dunford. It was recorded and a copy was sent to the Kay Kyser
band. Kay Kyser attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr.
Clinard had a weekly program playing the accordion on station WSJS for many
years. He was active in many organizations. He was a member of the Twin City
Kiwanis Club and an elder at Trinity Moravian Church. He graduated from Reynolds
High School in the class of 1939, attended most reunions and was a member of the
band and orchestra. He composed his class school song and was a member of
several organizations in the school. Mr. Clinard graduated from UNC Chapel Hill
in 1944 with a bachelor of arts degree in music. He sang in the University Glee
Club and played the piano, trombone, accordion and other instruments. He was a
member of the Phi Mu Alpha National Honorary Musical Fraternity and was vice
president of the "Carolina Club." Mr. Clinard studied piano at Salem College for
many years before entering college. After graduating from college he taught
music for 45 years in Forsyth and Davidson counties and privately in his studio
and Graylan. He taught piano, all instruments, Glee Clubs and directed Moravian
bands and several church choirs. He played for Chapel at Heritage Woods and
other events. Heritage Woods honored Mr. Clinard at a reception for all his
former students. The Moravian Band played for it and asked him to direct a few
chorales. He arranged an anthem for the Advent Moravian Church Band a few years
ago, and they played it at Heritage Woods.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Jerry
Lee Clinard. Surviving are his sister, Audra Jean Clinard Foil and husband W. M.
Foil Jr. of "Old Salem"; a nephew, Mitch Foil (Tamara) of Winston-Salem; a
nephew, Monte Foil and wife Carol and their children, Nicholas Graham Foil, and
Bethany Anne Foil of Spartanburg, S.C.; and an aunt, Dallas Sink of Brookridge
Retirement Home in Winston-Salem.

The family will receive friends at Vogler & Sons Main Street Chapel from 7 to 9
Friday evening.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with
the Rev. Patricia Garner and Dr. Truman Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at
the "Clinard Plot" in Salem Cemetery. After the service there will be a
reception at Heritage Woods in memory of Charlie. All are invited. Memorials may
be made to Trinity Moravian Church, 220 East Sprague St., Winston-Salem, NC
27103 or to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem,
NC 27103. The family wishes to thank Heritage Wood's Staff and Friends, the Wake
Forsyth Family Physicians especially Dr. Frank Celestino, the eighth floor,
Reynolds Tower, Baptist Hospital staff and nurses, as well as the Hospice Home
for the excellent care given to Charlie. Charlie was an inspiration to all that
knew him and is to be admired for his many accomplishments, in spite of his
physical handicap since birth.
Published in the Winston-Salem Journal on 7/31/2003.