William E. Claypool, Jr.'s Obituary
William E. Claypool, Jr., Col. U.S. Army (Ret.), age 93, left this life on February 19, 2014 in Tacoma, Washington. Preceded in death by his parents, William E. Claypool, Sr. and Ruth M. Claypool, and older sister, Louise R. Williamson. Sister of Ruth Anne C. Brown. Loving husband of 30 years to Elsie Tytla Claypool, M.D. Father of Nancy L. Claypool, New Orleans, Louisiana; Sandra L. Claypool (Brian L. Conrad), Ashland, Oregon; William E. Claypool, III (Jamie), Plymouth, Michigan; and Carol J. Claypool, King, North Carolina. Grandfather to Alison I. Claypool-Conrad, Lianna C. Claypool and James W. Claypool. Also survived by his first wife, Virginia Ivarson Claypool, five nieces, and one nephew.
Mr. Claypool was born in Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from Springfield High School where he served as the Student Citizen of the Springfield High School band. He played the cornet at football games, concerts, parades, and competition, winning first place in cornet and later performing as the solo cornetist for the St. Louis Municipal Opera.
His college career at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois was interrupted by WWII when he entered Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning, Georgia and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was sent to Europe, serving in the 103rd and 45th Infantry Divisions for 11 months of combat as an 81 mm mortar and rifle company commander. He was appointed Adjutant and Executive Officer of the 49th Evacuation Hospital and then became the Executive Officer of the 449th General Hospital and the 806th Hospital Center. He was decorated with the Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, and ETO with two Battle Stars. He returned to and graduated from Knox College where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, played in both the band and the orchestra, and served four years in ROTC.
Mr. Claypool then studied at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and returned to Springfield to work as a Registered Pharmacist after the death of his father at his family's drug store, Claypool's Drug Store, at Fifth and Monroe, best known as the drugstore where Abraham Lincoln bought his drugs. Mr. Claypool was accepted to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and became a member of the second graduating class in the Masters of Hospital Administration program.
Mr. Claypool served as the Associate Administrator of Ohio State University Hospital from 1949-1958. He built a 400-bed hospital in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1958 and served as its Administrator until 1970. He served as the Executive Director of Flower & Fifth Avenue Hospital in Manhattan and Associate Dean of the New York Medical College until he became the Medical Center Director for the V.A. Hospital in Cincinnati in 1973 and served as Medical District Director of all the Ohio Veterans Administration hospitals, long-term care facilities, and out-patient clinics. In 1982, he assumed the directorship of the V.A. Hospital in Lakewood, Washington before retiring in 1985.
Mr. Claypool was active in many industry and civic organizations. He served in various board capacities with the Columbus Academy of Medicine, the Milwaukee Hospital Council, the Wisconsin Hospital Association, the Franklin County Medical Society, and the American Hospital Association. He was elected one of the youngest fellows in the American College of Hospital Administrators (now the American College of Health Care Executives). He served on the boards of the United Appeal Campaign, American Legion, Worthington Civic Association, American National Red Cross, Rotary International, Milwaukee Area Technical College, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Tacoma Philharmonic Orchestra. He also served as Colonel and Instructor in the Command General Staff School and Medical Service of the U.S. Army Reserve for many years.
Mr. Claypool was an avid skier, sailor and tennis player. He was past president of the Flying Scot Sailing Association, Vice-Commodore of the Milwaukee Yacht Club, a member of the Ephraim Yacht Club, the Cowen Lake Sailing Association, the Tacoma Yacht Club, Heiliger Huegel Ski Club, the University Club of Milwaukee, and the Lakewood Racquet Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner.
After retirement, he worked as a yacht broker, cruised Puget Sound and the Canadian waters in his S-2 sloop, and enjoyed tennis and travel with his wife. He served as President of the Model Railroad Club in Tacoma, Washington and became a long-time volunteer at the Washington State History Museum, noted for its extensive model railroad exhibit.
A memorial service will be held in early March for the immediate family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Washington State Historical Society, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 or The First Presbyterian Church School, 20 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402.
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