Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

May 13, 2025

CHARLOTTE - Bernard “Bernie” Joseph Clyne went to his heavenly home on May 13, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. He was born on August 18, 1935, in Newark, NJ, the son of Irish immigrants and the middle of three children. Bernie earned a degree in accounting from St. Peter’s College in 1957 and spent his entire career in business management at Western Electric, which later became AT&T and then Lucent.

In 1963, he married the beautiful Ann Virostek, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage and raised four children. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren, ranging in age from 11 to 30.

Bernie’s job took the family from New Jersey to Colorado and eventually to Greensboro, NC, where they lived for over 40 years. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and many friends. Bernie loved planning annual family vacations that involved road trips across the country with four kids in the back of their station wagon. Despite frequent travel during the workweek, Bernie was always present for his children’s sporting events, recitals, and other important milestones.

He was cherished for his quick wit, his ability to tell a joke for any occasion, and his love of sports and reading. Bernie and Ann were a dependable source of support for countless neighbors and extended family members, and Bernie was especially generous in his role as caretaker for his beloved Ann before her passing in 2023. He taught his children an invaluable life lesson by example: to always put their family’s needs before their own.

A man of deep Catholic faith, Bernie served as a member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteered at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for 40 years. He and Ann often welcomed one of the priests from St. Paul’s to their home for Friday night dinners, where endless jokes and stories were told.

In 2022, Bernie and Ann moved to Charlotte to be closer to three of their children. They quickly became part of the warm and welcoming community at Merrywood, where they formed meaningful new friendships. During his final weeks, Bernie was often surrounded by visitors—residents and family alike—who knew him as a kind and selfless friend. He never sought attention for himself and longed to be reunited with his wife in the presence of the Lord.

Bernie is survived by his children: John Patrick Clyne and his wife, Andrea; Lynda Anne Clyne; Anne Clyne Rogers and her husband, Derek; and Stephen Bernard Clyne and his wife, Brittany. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Margot and Michaela Clyne; Emerson, Aiden, and Noah Rogers; and Camryn and Hannah Clyne.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ann Virostek Clyne; his parents, Bernard and Rosanna Clyne; his sister, Margaret Feeney; and his brother, John Clyne.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 30, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed at: https://stgabrielchurch.org/livefunerals.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in Bernie’s memory to his and Ann’s favorite ministry: Special Religious Education Program (SPRED), c/o St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.