Clement, Rev Paul Webster (1923-2010)

CLEMENT, GYLAND, SPITTLER, SANDERS, MOONEY, NOLL, CABLE, SURBER, SMITH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

McComb Funeral Home website, Shelton, WA

Paul Webster Clement, 87, died peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning, Nov. 4, 2010 in Olympia, Washington, following a brief illness. He was born April 13, 1923, in Winona, Minnesota, to the Rev. Webster H. Clement and Anna K. Gyland Clement. Paul was reared in Livingston, Montana, the middle child of three children. Paul loved the mountains of his Montana home, camping and fishing when he could. He was active in scouting, earning his Eagle Scout badge in 1939. He left home to enlist in the Army Air Corp in 1941 and, following training, was a World War II pilot based in Corsica, Italy. Paul flew a B-25 Mitchell bomber in the 428th Squadron on the 210th Wing of the 12th Air Force. He and his crew flew 31 European missions; their goal was to shut down the Brenner Pass, a much-used passage through the Alps. He and his crew called the plane “Stormy Weather” and received two Presidential Citations for helping keep the pass closed for 72 days. A twist of fate kept him in sick-bay one day while his crew and three other planes of the 428th Squadron flew a mission and did not return. He has said that his spiritual life turned around at that point and the loss of his crew was instrumental in his vocational choice to follow in his father’s footsteps in the ministry. Lieutenant Paul W. Clement was discharged October, 1945.

When he was in pre-flight, Paul had met Ruth Marion Spittler in Albion, Michigan. After he received his commission and silver wings, they were married August 13, 1944, by Paul’s father, Rev. Webster Clement, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Livingston, MT. The 100-year-old red brick church was featured in the movie “A River Runs Through It”. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary last August.

Paul was graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. and Northwest
Lutheran Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn. In addition to his studies, he enjoyed singing in the college choir; he also worked to support his young family. His first pastoral call was to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church with a small (and somewhat reluctant) congregation in Mukwonago, WI. Before he left that parish, his congregation came to love him and regard him as a man of strength, faith, compassion, determination, and the strong will to get things done. He was called next to Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City, Iowa, where he worked his pastoral magic and flexed his strong faith to mold a small membership, resulting in a large congregation complete with beautiful new church building. The next parish was Christ Lutheran, Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also served as chaplain for the Veterans’ hospital in Cheyenne. A call to begin a mission church in Lafayette, IN. followed. Months and months of door-knocking resulted in the beginnings of a church that, after meeting Sundays in the library of a Catholic school, finally became Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and another new church was built. His next call was to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Elkhart, Ind., and, though he retired after a few years there, still continued in his ministry at a small church in Cromwell, Ind., and as a fill-in pastor when needed.

Paul loved people, children, nature, whittling and working with wood. He delighted in making Christmas candles for others. Over the years, “collecting” became a fine art for Paul. He was probably best known for his garage sale trips – and the resultant treasures. He had a collection of more than 200 candy dips, of which none were the same. Rock collecting was another favorite pastime of his. His boyhood collections of coins and stamps became a lifetime’s work, resulting in quite impressive collections. He enjoyed Big Band and Blue Grass music, having played the trumpet since boyhood.

Golfing was another favorite pastime of Paul’s; he enjoyed his golfing partners in addition to the game – he had at least one hole-in-one over the years. He loved tent camping with his family and RV camping in later years. He and Ruth were long-time members of Tramper Sam’s in Shelton and fondly remember their camping family. He was a fine fly fisherman, though hadn’t had much chance to do so in recent years.

Paul and his wife Ruth moved to Shelton WA in1992 at the strong request of their daughters and joined the congregation at Faith Lutheran Church where they made wonderful new friends and have enjoyed the family of caring people who have helped make their lives complete.

Paul was preceded in death by two sons, Stephen and Timothy Clement, and his brother, Pastor James Clement. Survivors include his wife, Ruth, at home; a daughter Elaine Sanders and her partner Mickey Mooney of McCleary, Washington, a daughter Elizabeth (Beth) Noll and son-in-law, Dwight Noll of Rainier, Washington. Other survivors include a grandson, Paul Sanders and his wife Jodie of Boring, Oregon, three great-grandchildren Jennifer, Ashlyn and Riley of Oregon; and a grandson, Lyle Cable and his wife Kelly Surber Cable of Indianapolis, Indiana. Paul’s sister, Lula Mae Smith, also survives.
The family wishes to thank hospice, the staff at Alpine Way Retirement home and the wonderful people of Faith Lutheran Church for all their support and care.