The Shemwell Family

Willard Cecil Clapper Obituary and Family Listing Lt. Col. (Ret.) Willard C. Clapper, 96 years young, has left this earth to join the love of his life of 72 years, his late wife Virginia. He was born in Thurman, Iowa, April 28, 1918, to William Jennings Bryan Clapper and Lovevina Ada Boone. He grew up an only child but had many adventures as a mischievous one. His father owned the most organized wrecking yard in Kansas. Here he helped his Dad where he learned all about auto mechanics and passed this knowledge on to his sons and some to his daughters. This also led up to the fact that he could fix almost anything from radios, T.V.'s, cars, refrigerators and anything in between. He put this to good use for many years as the unofficial repairman for a large thrift store where he donated his time. He was the neighborhood "go-to-guy" if anyone needed something fixed even if they had it for several years. He also ran the "Cool Car Club" for his daughter and friends in the 70's. Willard joined the US Army in 1941 and retired as a Lt. Col. after 23 years of service to our country. He was active during World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. During WWII he was in England, France, Germany and Belgium. He was the Commander of the 427th Troop Transport Co., Quarter Master in Italy and in Korea Commander over food services. He was awarded The Croix de Guerre, which was the highest honor from the French government and several medals during his military career. He married his childhood sweetheart on April 4, 1942. Virginia and later their five children accompanied him to Wyoming, Kansas, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alaska, and Italy. Upon retiring from the military in El Paso, he stated, "I walked out of work as Army personnel and returned as a civilian to the same job in the same building." He retired from civil service after 22 years. He was a member of the same American Legion Post 46 in Atwood, Kansas for 33 years. During retirement and an empty nest of 30 years he and Virginia and a menagerie of dogs traveled to visit friends and family. He was a very strong gentleman with a huge, kind heart but also very private. He is survived by his 5 children Ronald (Barbara) Clapper, April Thorndike, Annette (Marty) Anselman, Bryan Clapper, and Willard "Spike" (Teri) Clapper, grandchildren Chad Thorndike, Brittany Thorndike (Boberg), Shannon Thorndike, Terrance McKinnon, Louis "Buddy" Anselman, Steven and Daniel Clapper, Shenee (Yturralde), Jaclyn (Davis), Melinda (Kukuk) Clapper, Daniel, Candace, and Michael Beltran, and 16 loving great-great grandchildren. We also want to thank care-givers Rayo and her son, Fabian Villarreal, for the love and care they gave to our Dad. He was more than a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and veteran. He was a wonderful friend, neighbor, and animal lover; so much so he should have been a veterinarian. He was a proud, strong man who was cherished by his wife, children, family and friends and will be missed terribly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. As Dad always said "Hang in there like an old rusty fish hook" and we will. Visitation will be Friday, September 12, 2104 at 8:30 and Chapel Services at 9:00 am at Martin Funeral Home-East, 1460 George Dieter Drive. Rite of Committal will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. . Published in El Paso Times from Sept. 8 to Sept. 15, 2014 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135699837/willard_cecil-clapper