James Walter Claspell, veteran member of the Muncie Housing Authority who served one term as a state representative and one term as a city councilman, died Wednesday morning at his home, 1424 Meeker Ave. He was 85.
A native of Bloomington, he was orphaned before he was 10 and grew up in his grandmother's home, beginning work in a Muncie glass factory when he was only 11 years old. Before he was 15 he was walking a picket line.
Mr. Claspell served later as president of Local 23, American Flint Glass Workers Union, and was president of Local 287, United Auto Workers at Warner Gear Division from where he retired in 1951. He was elected to city council as a Democrat and served from 1926 to 1930. He served as a state representative in 1942 and 1943 and was named to the board of the Muncie Housing Authority in 1944. He has served on that body 26 years and has been its chairman since 1947.
In April, Mr. Claspell was the subject of a feature story distributed by Associated Press which told of his interest in songwriting as well as politics. He helped organize the first Muncie Trade School. He was a charter member of the senior citizens on South Walnut St., a member of the board of Muncie Mission for 19 years, Industry United Methodist Church, and Warner Gear Sympathy Club.
Surviving are three sons, William Walter and James W., both of Muncie, and Charles H., Selma; four daughters, Mrs. John McGunegill, Selma, Mrs. Clifford Driscoll, Manchester, Tenn., Mrs. James O'Neill, Muncie, and Mrs. Wayne Birch, Leonidas, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Rev. Robert Carman of Industry United Methodist Church will officiate at services in Stephens-Rohrdan Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Friends may call there after 3 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory.
A native of Bloomington, he was orphaned before he was 10 and grew up in his grandmother's home, beginning work in a Muncie glass factory when he was only 11 years old. Before he was 15 he was walking a picket line.
Mr. Claspell served later as president of Local 23, American Flint Glass Workers Union, and was president of Local 287, United Auto Workers at Warner Gear Division from where he retired in 1951. He was elected to city council as a Democrat and served from 1926 to 1930. He served as a state representative in 1942 and 1943 and was named to the board of the Muncie Housing Authority in 1944. He has served on that body 26 years and has been its chairman since 1947.
In April, Mr. Claspell was the subject of a feature story distributed by Associated Press which told of his interest in songwriting as well as politics. He helped organize the first Muncie Trade School. He was a charter member of the senior citizens on South Walnut St., a member of the board of Muncie Mission for 19 years, Industry United Methodist Church, and Warner Gear Sympathy Club.
Surviving are three sons, William Walter and James W., both of Muncie, and Charles H., Selma; four daughters, Mrs. John McGunegill, Selma, Mrs. Clifford Driscoll, Manchester, Tenn., Mrs. James O'Neill, Muncie, and Mrs. Wayne Birch, Leonidas, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Rev. Robert Carman of Industry United Methodist Church will officiate at services in Stephens-Rohrdan Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Friends may call there after 3 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory.
James Walter Claspell, veteran member of the Muncie Housing Authority who served one term as a state representative and one term as a city councilman, died Wednesday morning at his home, 1424 Meeker Ave. He was 85.
A native of Bloomington, he was orphaned before he was 10 and grew up in his grandmother's home, beginning work in a Muncie glass factory when he was only 11 years old. Before he was 15 he was walking a picket line.
Mr. Claspell served later as president of Local 23, American Flint Glass Workers Union, and was president of Local 287, United Auto Workers at Warner Gear Division from where he retired in 1951. He was elected to city council as a Democrat and served from 1926 to 1930. He served as a state representative in 1942 and 1943 and was named to the board of the Muncie Housing Authority in 1944. He has served on that body 26 years and has been its chairman since 1947.
In April, Mr. Claspell was the subject of a feature story distributed by Associated Press which told of his interest in songwriting as well as politics. He helped organize the first Muncie Trade School. He was a charter member of the senior citizens on South Walnut St., a member of the board of Muncie Mission for 19 years, Industry United Methodist Church, and Warner Gear Sympathy Club.
Surviving are three sons, William Walter and James W., both of Muncie, and Charles H., Selma; four daughters, Mrs. John McGunegill, Selma, Mrs. Clifford Driscoll, Manchester, Tenn., Mrs. James O'Neill, Muncie, and Mrs. Wayne Birch, Leonidas, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Rev. Robert Carman of Industry United Methodist Church will officiate at services in Stephens-Rohrdan Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Friends may call there after 3 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory.
A native of Bloomington, he was orphaned before he was 10 and grew up in his grandmother's home, beginning work in a Muncie glass factory when he was only 11 years old. Before he was 15 he was walking a picket line.
Mr. Claspell served later as president of Local 23, American Flint Glass Workers Union, and was president of Local 287, United Auto Workers at Warner Gear Division from where he retired in 1951. He was elected to city council as a Democrat and served from 1926 to 1930. He served as a state representative in 1942 and 1943 and was named to the board of the Muncie Housing Authority in 1944. He has served on that body 26 years and has been its chairman since 1947.
In April, Mr. Claspell was the subject of a feature story distributed by Associated Press which told of his interest in songwriting as well as politics. He helped organize the first Muncie Trade School. He was a charter member of the senior citizens on South Walnut St., a member of the board of Muncie Mission for 19 years, Industry United Methodist Church, and Warner Gear Sympathy Club.
Surviving are three sons, William Walter and James W., both of Muncie, and Charles H., Selma; four daughters, Mrs. John McGunegill, Selma, Mrs. Clifford Driscoll, Manchester, Tenn., Mrs. James O'Neill, Muncie, and Mrs. Wayne Birch, Leonidas, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Rev. Robert Carman of Industry United Methodist Church will officiate at services in Stephens-Rohrdan Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Friends may call there after 3 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory.
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