Clindinin, F.F. 1883-1951

CLINDININ, GREEN, JAMES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 08:34:18

Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) Apr. 26, 1951

F.F. CLINDININ DIED EARLY THIS MORNING

Funeral Services At 2 P.M. Monday In the Congregational Church

After a long period of increasing feebleness, Frank F. ("Fin") Clindinin, lifelong Grinnellian, good friend and good citizen reached the end of life's pathway at an early hour this morning. He died peacefuly in his sleep. Few men in this community were better known and more sincerely liked than "Fin." Successful in his business, he also found time to do countless things for other people and when there was a community job to be done he was the man to do it. He had passed his 67th birthday in December.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Congregational church, of which he was a long time and useful member. The services will be conducted by his pastor, Rev. Leland W. Mann. Friends may call at the Smith funeral home.

Frank Finley Clindinin was born in Grinnell Dec. 10, 1883, the son of Finley and Evangeline Green Clindinin. He graduated from Grinnell high school, attended the Grinnell academy and was enrolled in Grinnell college as a mebmer of the class of 1911, but did not graduate. On July 24, 1911, he was united in marriage with Mildred James, member of another pioneer Grinnell family, who survives him with one son, James Knight Clindinin, of Whittier, Calif. There are also two grandsons, and three brothers, Walter and Russell of Grinnell and Charles of Oak Park, Ill.

STARTED EARLY

Mr. Clindinin started his business life early. While still in college he clerked for J.H. Mehlin in a grocery store. From 1908 to 1910 he was a railway postal clerk. In 1910 he formed a partnership with J.H. Mehlin in the grocery business under the firm name of Mehlin & Clindinin, a relationship which continued until 1923, when he established the real estate, insurance and farm loan business in which he was to spend the remainder of his active life under the name of the Clindinin Insurance Agency.

A few months ago Glen McCarel became associated with him as a partner. He was a member of the Iowa Association of Insurance Agents and had served as director and appraiser for the Grinnell Federal Savings & Loan Association. General confidence in his abiltiy and integrity was indicated by the frequent calls upon him to act as appraiser in confidential matters.

He was a man who was always ready and willing to serve his home community in any way possible. He gave of his time and his energy ungrudgingly and held positions of trust in many organizations. He was a past president of the Grinnell College alumni association and had served on the Grinnell College Council; had served on the board of directors of the Community hospital; was a past president, past vice president and for 18 years a director of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce; was a past director and past president of the Grinnell Country Club; had been active in the Kiwanis and Fortnightly clubs; was a member of the Elks lodge and a prominent Mason, having served the Masonic lodge in various postitions of trust and for 12 years served as a trustee of the Congregational church.

ABOUNDING ENERGY

His abounding energy was shown not only in his business life but in his home, where he and Mrs. Clindinin, working together, had built up a garden which for years has been one of the beauty spots of Grinnell.

The possessor of a fine tenor voice, he loved to sing and one of the fondest memories of his friends will be "Fin" Clindinin coming out strong on the high note of "My Wild Irish Rose" and stopping in the middle of it to yell "Hold it."

For many years, until his last illness came upon him, he could outwalk anyone in Grinnell. He drove himself unremittingly in his business and in his community activites but he left a record of accomplishment for his home town which will not soon be equalled.