Joel Samuel Clingenpeel, 103
Published 12:12 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2015
JULY 7 — Joel Samuel Clingenpeel, 103, of Farmville and formerly of Burkeville, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015. He was a son of the late Cornelius Jacob and Allie Flora Clingenpeel of Boones Mill. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mary Eleanor Moon Clingenpeel, a sister Edith Clingenpeel Brubaker, and brothers, Marvin, Harry and Lloyd Clingenpeel.
Mr. Clingenpeel was raised at Bush Run Dairy and Poultry Farm in rural Boones Mills and graduated high school in Rocky Mount in 1930; he then graduated from VPI with a B.S. degree in Agriculture Education in 1934. His first job was teaching vocational agriculture at Hamilton High School in Cartersville, 1934-1940, then at Burkeville High School, Crewe High School and Nottoway High School, retiring in 1974 after 40 years of teaching. Mr. Clingenpeel was a man of high morals and was highly respected by his students, coworkers, friends and family. He was an active member of Barker Memorial Methodist Church and later Wards Chapel United Methodist Church serving as an Elder and Sunday School Superintendent for many years.
With his wife Eleanor, he was an avid rose gardener and he won numerous blue ribbons for rose arrangements, at a time when mainly women competed in rose club flower arranging. He was a member of Burkeville Ruritan Club for 50 years. His nickname in the club was “Honey.” In 1978 he was chosen as the Lions Club Man of the Year at the “This is your Life” program. When he realized that Sunset Hill Cemetery in Burkeville was in a serious state of disrepair he located family members of the deceased and received monies to place the cemetery in perpetual care. He then managed the care of Sunset Hill Cemetery for 15 years. The gates of Sunset Hill have his name inscribed on them following a dedication 18 years ago to honor him and his tireless work for the cemetery.
His other passion was woodworking. He made walnut chests and desks for all of his family members and self delivered them as far away as Tennessee in a homemade trailer he fashioned from the rear axle of a 1938 Ford truck. He loved teaching and was influential in encouraging many of his students to attend college. During WW II he ran a cannery in the basement of Burkeville High School for County residents to preserve food from their “Victory Gardens”
He also managed a farm machinery repair class to help farmers repair their farming equipment.
Mr. Clingenpeel had a wonderful long life and he treated every day with positivity and every person with kindness and respect. He never forgot to say “Thank you” for help he received in his later life. He took full advantage of all the opportunities that this earthly life had to offer.
Surviving are his two sons, Conrad Moon Clingenpeel and wife, JeanAnne of Lewiston, NY, his four children Tammy C. Cabellero and husband, Donavan and children, Lauren and Brendon, and Michael Clingenpeel and wife, Debra and children, Heather, Courtney and Mallory, Sean Clingenpeel and wife, Kate, his children, Nexis and Hannah and a deceased daughter, Heather Clingenpeel. Also surviving is his other son, Dr. Joel Floyd Clingenpeel and wife, Mary Clarke Kanipe Clingenpeel and their sons, Clarke Floyd Clingenpeel and wife, Erika and children, Natalia Eleanor and Taylor Samuel Clingenpeel of Franklin, TN, and Dr. Joel Martin Clingenpeel and wife, Beth and daughters, Ella and Nora of Chesapeake.
Graveside services will be conducted 10 a.m., Thursday, July 9 at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Burkeville. The family will receive friends at Brookview Lodge, his home for the past 10 years at the Woodland on Cobb St. in Farmville, following the service.
Memorial gifts may be made to Wards Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 7818 Namozine Road, Crewe, VA 23930 or Franklin Baptist Church Organ Restoration Fund, 208 North High Street, Franklin, VA 23851.
On-line condolences at www.jennings-mcmillianfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are in the care of Jennings-McMillian Funeral & Cremation Service, Crewe.