Wesley Clampitt (1948)

CLAMPITT, ATWOOD, STRINGER, BRANSON, THROCKMORTON, FISHER, KRUSENSTJERNA, KRUGER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/7/2020 at 12:45:36

The Dallas County News
Adel, Iowa
July 7, 1948
Page 1, Columns 1 & 2

Wesley Clampitt Takes His Own Life At Home in Adel

Recently Resigned as Supt. Of Schools at Van Meter

Wesley D. Clampitt, well known Dallas county school man died at the Methodist hospital late Friday afternoon from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, resulting from his own hand at his home in Adel on Friday morning.

Mr. Clampitt was found in his upstairs bedroom by his wife shortly afterward. She notified Sheriff E. A. Burger and Dr. Chas Fail. He was unconscious at the time, and was immediately rushed to the Methodist hospital in Des Moines where efforts to save him proved futile. He passed away about 6 p.m.

Coroner L. H. DeFord of Redfield pronounced the death a suicide and said no inquest would be held.

Clampitt recently resigned his Van Meter post to take a position with a Sioux City insurance firm. He was a veteran of World War I and was graduated from Iowa State college, where he starred as an athlete.

Before coaching at Van Meter he served in the Dexter and Johnston schools.

His first wife died about two years ago and he recently remarried. He has two children, Ralph, who graduated from Adel High School this spring, and Lois, 14.

Wesley D. Clampitt, son of H. T. and Alice G. Clampitt, was born May 26, 1899 in Guthrie County, and passed away July 1, 1948 at the age of 49 years. He was one of 10 children of whom the following survive him: Frank of Adel, Mrs. S. E. Stringer, Paso Robles, Calif; Mrs. R. F. Branson of Dexter; Mrs. Walter Throckmorton of Storm Lake; Mrs. Chester Fisher of Pleasantville; Mrs. Russell Krusenstjerna of Sioux City and J. W. of Long Beach, Calif. Two sisters preceded him in death.

He graduated from Panora High School in 1918, enlisted immediately in the service and spent 15 months in France. After returning from service he was employed in the retail business for a short time.

He entered in the teaching profession, at Bondurant and later served at Farrar, Dexter, Johnston and Van Meter, having been Superintendent of Schools most of this time.

On August 20, 1924, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Atwood of Fairfield, Iowa who has assisted him in most of his teaching experience. To this union were born three children: Doris, Ralph and Lois. Preceding him in death were his daughter, Doris and his wife Evelyn. After his wife’s death he and his family moved to Adel in 1946. On June 15, 1948 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Bess Kruger of Sioux City.

He was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Christian church of Adel. He gave generously of his time and energy to community activities, and was particularly active in athletics.