- MINI-BIOGRAPHY FOR -
CLAIR DEWITT WALKER
[1898-1977]
The Rev. Clair Dewitt Walker was born 16 June 1898 in Renfrew, Pennsylvania to William Hildreth Walker and Alice Clay White. Clair grew up in a family that was well-to-do. William, Clair's father was in the oil business. It was generally accepted that Clair would continue in the family business… start working the smaller jobs and grow into bigger more important efforts given time, training and experience. Clair married Clara Mae Fennel 31 May 1923 in Fenelton, Butler, Pennsylvania. Fenelton was established and named after Clara's family, the Fennel's. Their first child, Alma known as Ruthie was born in 1925, their second child was a son named Donald or Donnie born in 1928 and their third child was a son named Ronald born in 1931.
The Census of 1930 tells us even more. Clair was married with a family and working in Clearfield, Pennsylvania as a pumper in the oil fields; and he owned his own home. He was doing quite well and all of this was going on smack dab in the middle of the horrific Great Depression. Clair had other thoughts. Clair decided that the church was for him, he felt and heard the call. He turned his back on a ready-made lucrative career and became a full-time minister.
In about 1935, Clair became a Minister of the Church of the Nazarene and his first congregation was in Sligo, Pennsylvania. It was a small church in a very small coal mining community, boasting a total population of about 800 souls. Clair was about 37 years old, and for that time it was unheard of to make a major career change like this, so late in life and during one of the worst financial downturns to ever afflict the country; especially when one already had a great paying steady job. Ronald, Clair's son talks about how little money the family had, how hard it was just to have enough to eat. Ron states that he really didn't think his dad had given proper thought to exactly how he would support his family with a small congregation and in an extremely small community. Clair and his family did eke by… just barely. It was tough, but Clair had impressed the leaders of the church with his determination to spread the message of the Good Book, consequently they transferred him to a larger community with greater opportunities; after 8 years in Sligo the Walkers moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
Clair worked very hard to expand his Kittanning congregation. His son Ron remembers church services every evening on Monday; Wednesday; and Friday; along with working the streets Tuesday's and Thursday's telling anyone who would listen about the Bible and its promise of everlasting life. Of course, there were early morning and late morning services every Sunday. Ron said his dad called it Recruiting for the Lord. After 8 years in Kittanning, Clair and Clara moved to a new congregation in Jerome, Pennsylvania.
Clair was able to do something that most Dad's would not ever do… he officiated at his daughter's wedding. On the 28th of June 1946, Clair bound in holy matrimony his daughter and bride Ruthie and her groom Rev. Merle P. Gray who was also a Nazarene Minister; it was a late evening affair. While Clair honchoed the service Ruthie was walked down the aisle and given in marriage by her Grandfather William Walker - [Note: Ruthie and Merle were married for 64 years before Merle's passing and Ruthie lived to be 98, passing away in 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico]. The Walker's sure knew how to put on an event since right after the wedding ceremony there was a reception for over 150 guests at Clair and Clara's home. This reception would have necessitated a lot of smiles and handshaking by Ruthie and Merle or as Ronald described it in Navy speak… "It was a giant Grip and Grin session".
Just as Clair had the joy of officiating his daughter's wedding, he also did something that most Dad's should never do… he took on the painful ordeal of conducting Donnie's graveside services; Donnie passed away due to Nephritis also known as "Bright's Disease", little Donnie was just 2.5 years old.
When the year 1950 arrived, the country was calling for help, the Korean War had started. Ronald joined the Navy answering his country's call. Clair wanted the Lord to keep an eye on Ronald, his only son, and he did it his unique way… he wrote a prayer to the Lord presenting his case, written in the metre of a poem.
To Ronnie…
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing
Somewhere on the sea my son is Sailing,
My son, that one day knelt beside my knee,
And prayed to God there in his boyish manner,
To make him good and keep his mom and me.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing, O God,
Stand by him and grace impart when crucial,
Moments make demands upon him, may he,
Fearless and sweetly do his part.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Where I do not know, perhaps tis best,
For did I know each daring, brave adventure,
Anxious fears would never let me rest.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Be near him God, my lonely heart would say,
Shield from all; I know that thou dost love him,
Keep him gently near to thee every day.
Composed by Clair, December 1952.
Clair continued leading his Jerome congregation and after 8 years was posted in Mercer, Pennsylvania. 7 more years added up and Clair decided it was time to be recognized as a retired elder of the Nazarene Church; so, he stepped down from his position in Mercer.
Clair and Clara established their retirement home in the Pine Grove Trailer Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania. Clair, as was his habit arose early in the morning and while preparing breakfast was stricken with a massive stroke, this was on or about the first week of December 1977. He was hospitalized but there was little that could be done for him… close family and close friends hurried to his beside to offer their prayers and support.
Clair was called Home by the Lord 09 December 1977.
CLAIR DEWITT WALKER
[1898-1977]
The Rev. Clair Dewitt Walker was born 16 June 1898 in Renfrew, Pennsylvania to William Hildreth Walker and Alice Clay White. Clair grew up in a family that was well-to-do. William, Clair's father was in the oil business. It was generally accepted that Clair would continue in the family business… start working the smaller jobs and grow into bigger more important efforts given time, training and experience. Clair married Clara Mae Fennel 31 May 1923 in Fenelton, Butler, Pennsylvania. Fenelton was established and named after Clara's family, the Fennel's. Their first child, Alma known as Ruthie was born in 1925, their second child was a son named Donald or Donnie born in 1928 and their third child was a son named Ronald born in 1931.
The Census of 1930 tells us even more. Clair was married with a family and working in Clearfield, Pennsylvania as a pumper in the oil fields; and he owned his own home. He was doing quite well and all of this was going on smack dab in the middle of the horrific Great Depression. Clair had other thoughts. Clair decided that the church was for him, he felt and heard the call. He turned his back on a ready-made lucrative career and became a full-time minister.
In about 1935, Clair became a Minister of the Church of the Nazarene and his first congregation was in Sligo, Pennsylvania. It was a small church in a very small coal mining community, boasting a total population of about 800 souls. Clair was about 37 years old, and for that time it was unheard of to make a major career change like this, so late in life and during one of the worst financial downturns to ever afflict the country; especially when one already had a great paying steady job. Ronald, Clair's son talks about how little money the family had, how hard it was just to have enough to eat. Ron states that he really didn't think his dad had given proper thought to exactly how he would support his family with a small congregation and in an extremely small community. Clair and his family did eke by… just barely. It was tough, but Clair had impressed the leaders of the church with his determination to spread the message of the Good Book, consequently they transferred him to a larger community with greater opportunities; after 8 years in Sligo the Walkers moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
Clair worked very hard to expand his Kittanning congregation. His son Ron remembers church services every evening on Monday; Wednesday; and Friday; along with working the streets Tuesday's and Thursday's telling anyone who would listen about the Bible and its promise of everlasting life. Of course, there were early morning and late morning services every Sunday. Ron said his dad called it Recruiting for the Lord. After 8 years in Kittanning, Clair and Clara moved to a new congregation in Jerome, Pennsylvania.
Clair was able to do something that most Dad's would not ever do… he officiated at his daughter's wedding. On the 28th of June 1946, Clair bound in holy matrimony his daughter and bride Ruthie and her groom Rev. Merle P. Gray who was also a Nazarene Minister; it was a late evening affair. While Clair honchoed the service Ruthie was walked down the aisle and given in marriage by her Grandfather William Walker - [Note: Ruthie and Merle were married for 64 years before Merle's passing and Ruthie lived to be 98, passing away in 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico]. The Walker's sure knew how to put on an event since right after the wedding ceremony there was a reception for over 150 guests at Clair and Clara's home. This reception would have necessitated a lot of smiles and handshaking by Ruthie and Merle or as Ronald described it in Navy speak… "It was a giant Grip and Grin session".
Just as Clair had the joy of officiating his daughter's wedding, he also did something that most Dad's should never do… he took on the painful ordeal of conducting Donnie's graveside services; Donnie passed away due to Nephritis also known as "Bright's Disease", little Donnie was just 2.5 years old.
When the year 1950 arrived, the country was calling for help, the Korean War had started. Ronald joined the Navy answering his country's call. Clair wanted the Lord to keep an eye on Ronald, his only son, and he did it his unique way… he wrote a prayer to the Lord presenting his case, written in the metre of a poem.
To Ronnie…
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing
Somewhere on the sea my son is Sailing,
My son, that one day knelt beside my knee,
And prayed to God there in his boyish manner,
To make him good and keep his mom and me.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing, O God,
Stand by him and grace impart when crucial,
Moments make demands upon him, may he,
Fearless and sweetly do his part.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Where I do not know, perhaps tis best,
For did I know each daring, brave adventure,
Anxious fears would never let me rest.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Be near him God, my lonely heart would say,
Shield from all; I know that thou dost love him,
Keep him gently near to thee every day.
Composed by Clair, December 1952.
Clair continued leading his Jerome congregation and after 8 years was posted in Mercer, Pennsylvania. 7 more years added up and Clair decided it was time to be recognized as a retired elder of the Nazarene Church; so, he stepped down from his position in Mercer.
Clair and Clara established their retirement home in the Pine Grove Trailer Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania. Clair, as was his habit arose early in the morning and while preparing breakfast was stricken with a massive stroke, this was on or about the first week of December 1977. He was hospitalized but there was little that could be done for him… close family and close friends hurried to his beside to offer their prayers and support.
Clair was called Home by the Lord 09 December 1977.
- MINI-BIOGRAPHY FOR -
CLAIR DEWITT WALKER
[1898-1977]
The Rev. Clair Dewitt Walker was born 16 June 1898 in Renfrew, Pennsylvania to William Hildreth Walker and Alice Clay White. Clair grew up in a family that was well-to-do. William, Clair's father was in the oil business. It was generally accepted that Clair would continue in the family business… start working the smaller jobs and grow into bigger more important efforts given time, training and experience. Clair married Clara Mae Fennel 31 May 1923 in Fenelton, Butler, Pennsylvania. Fenelton was established and named after Clara's family, the Fennel's. Their first child, Alma known as Ruthie was born in 1925, their second child was a son named Donald or Donnie born in 1928 and their third child was a son named Ronald born in 1931.
The Census of 1930 tells us even more. Clair was married with a family and working in Clearfield, Pennsylvania as a pumper in the oil fields; and he owned his own home. He was doing quite well and all of this was going on smack dab in the middle of the horrific Great Depression. Clair had other thoughts. Clair decided that the church was for him, he felt and heard the call. He turned his back on a ready-made lucrative career and became a full-time minister.
In about 1935, Clair became a Minister of the Church of the Nazarene and his first congregation was in Sligo, Pennsylvania. It was a small church in a very small coal mining community, boasting a total population of about 800 souls. Clair was about 37 years old, and for that time it was unheard of to make a major career change like this, so late in life and during one of the worst financial downturns to ever afflict the country; especially when one already had a great paying steady job. Ronald, Clair's son talks about how little money the family had, how hard it was just to have enough to eat. Ron states that he really didn't think his dad had given proper thought to exactly how he would support his family with a small congregation and in an extremely small community. Clair and his family did eke by… just barely. It was tough, but Clair had impressed the leaders of the church with his determination to spread the message of the Good Book, consequently they transferred him to a larger community with greater opportunities; after 8 years in Sligo the Walkers moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
Clair worked very hard to expand his Kittanning congregation. His son Ron remembers church services every evening on Monday; Wednesday; and Friday; along with working the streets Tuesday's and Thursday's telling anyone who would listen about the Bible and its promise of everlasting life. Of course, there were early morning and late morning services every Sunday. Ron said his dad called it Recruiting for the Lord. After 8 years in Kittanning, Clair and Clara moved to a new congregation in Jerome, Pennsylvania.
Clair was able to do something that most Dad's would not ever do… he officiated at his daughter's wedding. On the 28th of June 1946, Clair bound in holy matrimony his daughter and bride Ruthie and her groom Rev. Merle P. Gray who was also a Nazarene Minister; it was a late evening affair. While Clair honchoed the service Ruthie was walked down the aisle and given in marriage by her Grandfather William Walker - [Note: Ruthie and Merle were married for 64 years before Merle's passing and Ruthie lived to be 98, passing away in 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico]. The Walker's sure knew how to put on an event since right after the wedding ceremony there was a reception for over 150 guests at Clair and Clara's home. This reception would have necessitated a lot of smiles and handshaking by Ruthie and Merle or as Ronald described it in Navy speak… "It was a giant Grip and Grin session".
Just as Clair had the joy of officiating his daughter's wedding, he also did something that most Dad's should never do… he took on the painful ordeal of conducting Donnie's graveside services; Donnie passed away due to Nephritis also known as "Bright's Disease", little Donnie was just 2.5 years old.
When the year 1950 arrived, the country was calling for help, the Korean War had started. Ronald joined the Navy answering his country's call. Clair wanted the Lord to keep an eye on Ronald, his only son, and he did it his unique way… he wrote a prayer to the Lord presenting his case, written in the metre of a poem.
To Ronnie…
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing
Somewhere on the sea my son is Sailing,
My son, that one day knelt beside my knee,
And prayed to God there in his boyish manner,
To make him good and keep his mom and me.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing, O God,
Stand by him and grace impart when crucial,
Moments make demands upon him, may he,
Fearless and sweetly do his part.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Where I do not know, perhaps tis best,
For did I know each daring, brave adventure,
Anxious fears would never let me rest.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Be near him God, my lonely heart would say,
Shield from all; I know that thou dost love him,
Keep him gently near to thee every day.
Composed by Clair, December 1952.
Clair continued leading his Jerome congregation and after 8 years was posted in Mercer, Pennsylvania. 7 more years added up and Clair decided it was time to be recognized as a retired elder of the Nazarene Church; so, he stepped down from his position in Mercer.
Clair and Clara established their retirement home in the Pine Grove Trailer Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania. Clair, as was his habit arose early in the morning and while preparing breakfast was stricken with a massive stroke, this was on or about the first week of December 1977. He was hospitalized but there was little that could be done for him… close family and close friends hurried to his beside to offer their prayers and support.
Clair was called Home by the Lord 09 December 1977.
CLAIR DEWITT WALKER
[1898-1977]
The Rev. Clair Dewitt Walker was born 16 June 1898 in Renfrew, Pennsylvania to William Hildreth Walker and Alice Clay White. Clair grew up in a family that was well-to-do. William, Clair's father was in the oil business. It was generally accepted that Clair would continue in the family business… start working the smaller jobs and grow into bigger more important efforts given time, training and experience. Clair married Clara Mae Fennel 31 May 1923 in Fenelton, Butler, Pennsylvania. Fenelton was established and named after Clara's family, the Fennel's. Their first child, Alma known as Ruthie was born in 1925, their second child was a son named Donald or Donnie born in 1928 and their third child was a son named Ronald born in 1931.
The Census of 1930 tells us even more. Clair was married with a family and working in Clearfield, Pennsylvania as a pumper in the oil fields; and he owned his own home. He was doing quite well and all of this was going on smack dab in the middle of the horrific Great Depression. Clair had other thoughts. Clair decided that the church was for him, he felt and heard the call. He turned his back on a ready-made lucrative career and became a full-time minister.
In about 1935, Clair became a Minister of the Church of the Nazarene and his first congregation was in Sligo, Pennsylvania. It was a small church in a very small coal mining community, boasting a total population of about 800 souls. Clair was about 37 years old, and for that time it was unheard of to make a major career change like this, so late in life and during one of the worst financial downturns to ever afflict the country; especially when one already had a great paying steady job. Ronald, Clair's son talks about how little money the family had, how hard it was just to have enough to eat. Ron states that he really didn't think his dad had given proper thought to exactly how he would support his family with a small congregation and in an extremely small community. Clair and his family did eke by… just barely. It was tough, but Clair had impressed the leaders of the church with his determination to spread the message of the Good Book, consequently they transferred him to a larger community with greater opportunities; after 8 years in Sligo the Walkers moved to Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
Clair worked very hard to expand his Kittanning congregation. His son Ron remembers church services every evening on Monday; Wednesday; and Friday; along with working the streets Tuesday's and Thursday's telling anyone who would listen about the Bible and its promise of everlasting life. Of course, there were early morning and late morning services every Sunday. Ron said his dad called it Recruiting for the Lord. After 8 years in Kittanning, Clair and Clara moved to a new congregation in Jerome, Pennsylvania.
Clair was able to do something that most Dad's would not ever do… he officiated at his daughter's wedding. On the 28th of June 1946, Clair bound in holy matrimony his daughter and bride Ruthie and her groom Rev. Merle P. Gray who was also a Nazarene Minister; it was a late evening affair. While Clair honchoed the service Ruthie was walked down the aisle and given in marriage by her Grandfather William Walker - [Note: Ruthie and Merle were married for 64 years before Merle's passing and Ruthie lived to be 98, passing away in 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico]. The Walker's sure knew how to put on an event since right after the wedding ceremony there was a reception for over 150 guests at Clair and Clara's home. This reception would have necessitated a lot of smiles and handshaking by Ruthie and Merle or as Ronald described it in Navy speak… "It was a giant Grip and Grin session".
Just as Clair had the joy of officiating his daughter's wedding, he also did something that most Dad's should never do… he took on the painful ordeal of conducting Donnie's graveside services; Donnie passed away due to Nephritis also known as "Bright's Disease", little Donnie was just 2.5 years old.
When the year 1950 arrived, the country was calling for help, the Korean War had started. Ronald joined the Navy answering his country's call. Clair wanted the Lord to keep an eye on Ronald, his only son, and he did it his unique way… he wrote a prayer to the Lord presenting his case, written in the metre of a poem.
To Ronnie…
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing
Somewhere on the sea my son is Sailing,
My son, that one day knelt beside my knee,
And prayed to God there in his boyish manner,
To make him good and keep his mom and me.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing, O God,
Stand by him and grace impart when crucial,
Moments make demands upon him, may he,
Fearless and sweetly do his part.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Where I do not know, perhaps tis best,
For did I know each daring, brave adventure,
Anxious fears would never let me rest.
Somewhere On the Sea My Son is Sailing,
Be near him God, my lonely heart would say,
Shield from all; I know that thou dost love him,
Keep him gently near to thee every day.
Composed by Clair, December 1952.
Clair continued leading his Jerome congregation and after 8 years was posted in Mercer, Pennsylvania. 7 more years added up and Clair decided it was time to be recognized as a retired elder of the Nazarene Church; so, he stepped down from his position in Mercer.
Clair and Clara established their retirement home in the Pine Grove Trailer Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania. Clair, as was his habit arose early in the morning and while preparing breakfast was stricken with a massive stroke, this was on or about the first week of December 1977. He was hospitalized but there was little that could be done for him… close family and close friends hurried to his beside to offer their prayers and support.
Clair was called Home by the Lord 09 December 1977.
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