One of Madera’s foremost civic volunteers, as well as a distinguished industrial designer and artist, has died. Charles “Val” Valgene Clute, 85, passed away Sunday after a short illness.
Mr. Clute had lived in Madera 39 years, after moving to Madera in 1973 when he became director of container design at Madera Glass Co.
Once in Madera, he and his late wife, Nancy, became involved in community affairs.
Mr. Clute was one of the founding members of Madera Sunrise Rotary, in which he served as club president in 1981 and was active almost until his last day. A week before he became ill, he was still contacting people to sell them tickets to the Sunrise Rotary Shrimp Feed, scheduled for Saturday...