Clyde "Joe" Bourne

Clyde Clifton Bourne Jr. of Cape Coral, better known as “Joe” by his family and friends, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 following some recent health challenges.  He was 86 years old.

Joe was born on March 13, 1932 in Portsmouth, Ohio, the proud son of Helen (Taylor) and Clyde C. Bourne Sr.  He was a resident at the Methodist Children’s Home from 1935-41 before beginning his schooling.  As a student, Joe showed proficiency with his studies and an excellence in athletics.  Joe attended Indianola Junior High School where he attained All City Honors and Lettered in Track, Baseball and Basketball.  Following that, Joe was awarded All City and All County Honors at North High School where he lettered for 2 years in Track and 3 years in both Basketball and Football.

Shortly following graduation from high school, Joe enlisted with the United States Marine Corps and was inducted on July 3, 1950.  He served with NATO forces as part of the Sixth Fleet prior to being deployed in 1952 for operations in Korea with the First Marine Division.  Joe served in combat for over 14 months with the First Tank Battalion and received a Presidential Unit Citation.  He was honorably discharged from military service on July 4, 1954 and returned home to enroll at Ohio State University where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Science Degrees in 1958.

Fresh out of OSU, Joe began his working life with Marathon Oil in the Market Development Division.  This experience allowed Joe to recognize that a great opportunity existed in the Ohio area for direct marketing, so, in 1970 he joined a company as General Manager that was responsible for providing door-to-door distribution to over 1.9 million households.  Joe developed a reputation for overseeing marketing campaigns that were highly successful and was quickly transferred to the home office in Columbus where he was promoted to the position of Vice President for Operations.  In 1976, Joe paired his talents with Ted Husch and the two founded ADS Distributing Service to provide direct marketing in the greater Columbus area.  Their business was a runaway success and was acquired by the Columbus Dispatch in 1979.  Joe stayed on with Dispatch Consumer Services after the sale as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and continued to develop the door-to-door advertising model.  Joe achieved consistent growth in circulation and revenue until his retirement in 1997 and was thereafter honored for his career achievements by receiving the national Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Alternate Postal Systems.

Joe leaves to cherish his loving memory his devoted wife Helen (Henson) Bourne; daughters Cindy (Mike) Rooney of Cape Coral and Kimberly (Tim) Wheeland of Powell, OH; son Craig (Denise) Bourne of Sterling Heights, Michigan; eight grandchildren; 20 and one-half great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; sister Romie Sachs of Littleton, CO and sister-in-law Betty Johnson of Columbus, OH.  Joe also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, many extended family members, Sophie, his devoted soft-coat Wheaton Terrier and countless others who were proud to know Joe and call him a friend.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Joe was a man of capability, commitment, courage and charity.  He was a Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a Master Mason of University Lodge No. 631 who received his 60-year membership pin.  He was also a 20+ year member of the Cape Coral Eagles and the Elks Lodge where he founded the Shield of Honor and served multiple terms as House Committee Chairman.  If he wasn’t wintering in Southwest Florida during his retirement, Joe was probably back in Ohio at Lake Erie where he would often be spotted fishing with Captain John Liles.  Joe could also be found frequently on the golf course throughout his life where he enjoyed the competition and the camaraderie.  Most of all, however, Joe was a man with a loving heart and sincere soul.  He loved Ohio State University and especially its football program beginning as a child when he snuck into Ohio Stadium to watch a game, but more importantly, Joe loved his precious wife Helen forever and he loved God eternally.

A Memorial Service for Joe will be celebrated by Pastor Paul Kisner at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Hope United Methodist Church, 2006 Chiquita Boulevard South, Cape Coral, Florida 33991, (239) 574-5570.  Friends will be received for one hour preceding the ceremony beginning at 10:00 AM also inside the church sanctuary.  Immediately following the conclusion of these services, Military Honors will be rendered for Joe by the Honor Guard for the Cape Coral Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8463.  Joe will thereafter return to Columbus, Ohio and a Visitation will be held on Friday, December 21, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM and 6:00 – 8:00 PM, with a Masonic Service beginning at 7:30 PM, at the Shaw-Davis Funeral Home, 4341 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214, (614) 299-4155.  Family and friends will gather at the funeral home the following day, Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 9:30 AM and will travel in procession to Union Cemetery where Joe will be laid to rest following a graveside memorial service and final honors by members of the United States Marine Corps.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in memory of Joe be made to Hope United Methodist Church or directed to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908, (239) 482-4673.  To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Joe’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.

To view the Video Tribute please click the following link:

https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/2DMZSB7RSW4PSWQ9