Clinton Maxwell Bertschi, 94, of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, passed away on January 14, 2025 at the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick - Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. He was surrounded by family and lovingly cared for by the staff.

Clinton is survived by his son James Marion Bertschi of Advance, NC; daughter Linda Bertschi Bolling of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; daughter-in-law Sheila Bigford Bertschi of High Point, NC; four grandchildren Anthony Owen Bertschi and wife Kirsten of High Point, NC; Jeremy Paul Bertschi and wife Eron of Winston-Salem, NC; April Bertschi Gibson and husband Michael of Winston-Salem, NC; Rikki Lee Bertschi and husband David Hanes of Advance, NC; seven great grandchildren, Landon Bertschi, Harrison Bertschi, Carter Bertschi, Kate Bertschi, Gracyn Bertschi, Emma Bertschi and Tyler Gibson; a sister-in-law Inez Hatcher and husband Joe Mack of Fayetteville, NC;

Clinton is also survived by many special loved ones that he thought of as family, including Mike Comer of Thomasville, NC; Cheri Gray of Archdale, NC; John Kenny of Raleigh, NC; Gene and Marie Marshburn of Shallotte, NC; Junie and Teresa Michael of Winston-Salem, NC; Sam and Timmy Milliken of Shallotte, NC; Luis and Nora Rodriquez of Conway, SC; Jim and Mary Taylor of Kernersville, NC; Gary and Melanie Younts of Shallotte, NC; his neighbors at Parker’s Pointe; his friends at First Bank; and everyone at the Inlet View Bar & Grill who affectionately refer to him as “Mr. Pretty Legs”.   

He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Geraldine Owen Bertschi, parents Jacob and Nellie Maxwell Bertschi; brother Jacob Bertschi; sister Nesbeth Fisher; nephew Walter Fisher; brother-in-law Bill Owen; nephew Michael Owen; sister-in-law Maxine Lott Bertschi; niece Sherry Bertschi Bauer; son-in-law Wayne Bolling and his oldest son C. Owen Bertschi.

Clinton was born December 15, 1930, in Wade, NC. Clinton attended Fayetteville High where he played Offensive Guard on the State Championship team and played on the 1948 Shrine Bowl Team. During high school, Clinton began purchasing and reconditioning used vehicles. His biggest accomplishment in high school was that he met his wife Geraldine, the love of his life. They eloped on Labor Day in 1949. Shortly after they were married, they found out they had a child on the way. At the age of 19 Clinton’s father passed and he found himself responsible for a wife, a newborn child, his mother and two younger siblings.

In 1950 Clinton began selling new Dodges for Yarborough Motor Company in Fayetteville, NC. After a brief period of working for someone else he opened and operated his own used car business, Clinton’s Auto Sales. In 1958 he joined Leigh Aultry Motor Company, a Chrysler Plymouth Dealership, as used car manager. The fall of 1959 he joined Layfette Ford as Reconditioning Manager and quickly rose to General Sales manager. In 1967 Clinton opened Patrick Ford, now known as Crown Ford, as General Manager for Mr. George Purvis. His next opportunity was given to him by Mr. Manly Eubank. In 1969 he left Fayetteville, NC and moved to Charleston, SC where he became part-owner and General Manager. In the fall of 1970, he moved to High Point, NC and Crescent Ford as Dealer Principle. As the years went by, he and business partner Claude Draughn bought and sold several dealerships including Friendly Ford in Thomasville, NC, Crescent Lincoln Mercury in High Point, NC, Tri-City Chrysler Plymouth in Eden, NC and Nelson Cole GMC in Reidsville, NC. Clinton also started and operated a van conversion shop called Crescent Cruisers from 1982-1990. In 2007 Clinton sold his interest in Crescent Ford, Inc. to his son Owen, where Owen’s three children still operate the business today. Clinton was awarded the NCADA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

In 1982 Clinton helped charter American Bank and served as Chairman. He served as President of the High Point and Thomasville Auto Dealers Association and was Chairman of the Carolina Ford Advertising Association. Clinton mentored numerous people in the car industry. He was an active partner in Advantage Ford of Henderson, NC and Ocean City Chevrolet of Shallotte, NC until he approached 90 years old. He remained a partner in Myrtle Beach Chevrolet Cadillac in Myrtle Beach, SC and Jones Ford of Shallotte, NC when he passed.

Clinton loved being in the air, as well as the water. He was an experienced pilot, having owned twenty-six planes in his lifetime. He was also a captain, owning many boats and yachts (two of them named Miss Jerry in honor of his wife). While his children were growing up, summers were spent at White Lake with The Cain Family. Clinton later built a beautiful home at Badin Lake, where he and his wife lived for over 20 years. Weekends were spent with the house full of family and friends while boating and water skiing. He took great pride in being able to take his family on vacations, sailing to various locations along the North and South Carolina coast.  

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025 at Shallotte Presbyterian Church, 5070 M. H. Rourke Drive, Shallotte, NC 28470. The family will visit with friends after the service. A graveside service will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Brunswick Memorial Gardens.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Shallotte Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 3256, Shallotte, NC 28459; Brunswick Family Assistance, P.O. Box 1551, Shallotte, NC 28459; or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or online at lifecare.org.

Brunswick Funeral Service, Shallotte is in charge of arrangements.