Woodrow Herman Barclay, 93, died at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on April 23, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. He was born Aug. 12, 1918, in Lima, Ohio to Herman and Essie (Parker) Barclay. On Nov. 11, 1942 he married Martha Powell, who died Sept. 4, 2009. They were married for 67 years.
Mr. Barclay graduated from Lima South High School in 1936.
He was a WWII Army veteran serving as a major in the coastal artillery on the east and west coasts from 1941-1946.
He attended Ohio Northern University and received a master's degree from the University of Michigan. He pursued a career with the Department of Agriculture as a soil conservationist for the state of Michigan. He lived in Adrian, Michigan from 1953-1968 before transferring to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He was a member of the Adrian and North Grand Rapids Rotary Club, last serving as Secretary - Treasurer. He was as a mentor to high school students who were struggling with career choices.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Kussmaul, of Bluffton; Kristin (Arnold) Lee of Grand Rapids, Michigan; a son, John (Shellie) Barclay of Bronson, Mich.; two sisters, Marie Allen, of Wapakoneta, Ohio; and Edith Schoonover of Lima, Ohio.
Also surviving are 15 grandchildren; Brian and Brett Barclay, Joe (Kimberly) Kussmaul, Jeff (DeAnna) Kussmaul, Tori (Kerri) Mehringer, Jamie Watanabe, Andrea (Mike) Crudder, Paul (Jessica) Lee, Kami Kehoe, Denise (LeVal) Gunn, Jennifer (Matt) Veltman, Rachel Lee, Michael (Heather) Lee and Karla (Alex) Barberi. He was great-grandfather to twenty-one; Mikaela and Carissa Kussmaul, Spencer and Parker Kussmaul, Lucas, Maria and Rachel Mehringer, Kamariya, Jonathon, and Kaitlyn Gunn, Ezra, and Eden Wright and Verek Veltman, Audrey and Chase Kehoe, Logan and Lyon Lee, Izora Crudder, Oscar Lee and AJ and Paula Barberi.
He was preceded in death by a brother, George Barclay; sister, Lucille Montgomery; and grandson, Scott Lee.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Bur Shilling will officiate. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Grand Rapids Rotary Club or the Parkinson’s Foundation. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
