Memorial service with full military honors for Retired SSG Reuben S. McClain Jr., 68 of Killeen, Texas will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022, 6:00 p.m. at Killeen Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Reuben S. McClain, Jr, called Rudy Dee by the very select, was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 13, 1953 to Reuben S McClain, Sr and Gladys Melrose Massey McClain.

He attended school in San Antonio and graduated from Highlands High School. He married his high school sweetheart Joetta on December 22, 1971.  To this union, they were blessed with 3 children, Kelli, Kimberly and Reuben, III.

He joined the military and enjoyed a career with travel to various states and countries until his retirement in 1995 after 20 years of service.

He loved to BBQ and was known to hold an umbrella over the pit during rain and snow to get his fix in. His brisket was enjoyed by many as well as the best potato salad and a mean 7-Up cake.  The family has a long history of trips to City Market in Luling, TX for brisket, beef sausage and all the fixings served on butcher paper with a Big Red and Reuben was quite delighted to pass this tradition along to his children and grandchildren. Reuben loved sports and played basketball in high school, college and in the military and in later years, watched it on TV.

Dad had a passion for music and was known to spend hours listening to his reel to reel, his cassette tapes, then his CD player, his mp3 then his…you get the idea.  He always had the latest technology to play his favorites.  He especially loved jazz and soul.  While he didn't play an instrument, he had a keen ear and instilled this skill in his children.

Dad loved his family and adored his grandchildren and took great pride in being called Papa.  He took great joy in giving his grandchildren treats when their parents weren't looking and watching them in all their extracurricular activities.  He took great care of his lawn and was known as the neighborhood watch for all the hours he would spend in his garage watching over it all.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife of 50 years Joetta; his daughters Kelli and Kimberly (Matthew); his son Reuben, III; his brother Ben (Scheila) Rucker; grandchildren Jonathon, Alexander, Jasmine, Vivian and Cyrus and a host of cousins, family and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Reuben S. McClain, Sr. and Melrose McClain.