Colonel John N. Clapp Usaf, Ret. Obituary (1932

Let Us Pause To Honor the Memory of Colonel John N. Clapp, USAF, Ret. Colonel John N. Clapp, USAF, Ret., age 85, of Madison, Indiana formerly of Hanover entered this life on September 16, 1932 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late Georgia Sutherland Clapp Van Winkle King. He was a 1950 graduate of Saluda High School. He was united in marriage to Barbara A. King on August 3, 1954 at the New Prospect Baptist Church at Saluda. This happy union of 64 years was blessed with a daughter, Deborah and a son, Brian. John was inducted into the United States Air Force in January 1952 and completed Basic at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. After Basic, he was an Airman stationed at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona until March of 1953 when he returned to Lackland AFB as a CADET to begin his officer career. He graduated on June 10, 1954 from Advanced Pilot Training at Foster AFB in Texas with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. This would begin his 27 year career in the United States Air Force as a pilot and staff officer. He served in the Strategic Air Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for this superior service he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Battle Star, the Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, the Air Force Longevity Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the National Guard Bureau Minuteman Award, and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. His pilot career began in the B-47, stationed once again at Davis Monthan AFB. He moved on to flying the B-52 at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, where he was co-pilot on the crew that won the Air Force Bomb Competition Fairchild Trophy in 1960. Later he served at 2nd Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, before serving for several years and retiring from the Pentagon in Washington, DC as a Colonel on May 31, 1979. He moved back to Jefferson County in 1979 to his beloved Saluda. He was a member of Paynesville Christian Church. He loved spending time with his family, helping others farm, taking his grandchildren on RV trips throughout the US and Canada, and attending their band and athletic events, which he continued to attend as his great grandchildren also became active in sports. Due to failing health, he and Barbara just recently moved to Hereford Lake to be near their daughter. John died on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, Indiana. Click Here for Tribute or Funeral Service Video A LOVING FAMILY John will be missed by his loving wife of 64 years, Barbara A. King Clapp of Madison, Indiana; his loving daughter, Deborah Bair and her husband Loren of Madison, Indiana; his loving son, Brian Clapp and his wife Tamera of Clarksville, Tennessee; his grandson, Captain Adam Bair, USAF and his wife Jackie of California; granddaughter, Angela Tuttle and her husband Josh of Clarksville, Tennessee; his great grandchildren, Kylie, Claire, Violet, and Derek Tuttle; Ashton and Alexander Bair-Goeppner; his half-brothers, William Van Winkle and his wife Norma of Purcell, Oklahoma, Donald Clapp and his wife Elizabeth of Palm Harbor, Florida, George Clapp and his wife Wilma of Nicholasville, Kentucky; his half-sisters, Barbara Deaton of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Judy Henry of Lexington, Kentucky; his sister in law, Jean Epperson of Saluda, Indiana; his cousins who are like his brother and sister, Edwin Hardy and Family and Janice Stanley and Family; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his mother, Georgia Sutherland Clapp Van Winkle King, and his grandson, Daniel Alan Clapp, died March 11, 2007. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, September 16, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., by Bro. Jim Bowyer at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre - Hanover Chapel, 278 East Main Street Hanover, Indiana. Interment will follow in the New Prospect Cemetery near Saluda, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may visit Saturday from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 Noon until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre - Hanover Chapel, 278 East Main Street in Hanover, Indiana. MILITARY HONORS A final salute will be conducted on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre-Hanover Chapel by Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion with full military honors to follow at the graveside with the Wright Patterson United States Air Force Ceremonial Unit and Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the New Prospect Cemetery or the Paynesville Christian Church. Cards are available at the funeral homes. Online condolences, www.morgan-nay.com To send a flower arrangement in memory of Colonel John N. Clapp USAF, Ret. , please click here to visit our sympathy store.