D. Dale Claypool

D. Dale Claypool, 89, of Marienville, formerly of West Kittanning, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2018, at his favorite place in the entire world, his camp near Allegheny National Forest.  He was born Nov. 4, 1928, in Kittanning, the son of Victor and Pearl (Johns) Claypool and grew up in East Franklin Township.  Dale was a 1946 graduate of Kittanning High School and a 1950 graduate of Penn State University.  He joined the Army during the Korean Conflict before entering the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Class of 1956, where he was Editor of the Law Review.  He practiced law in Armstrong County for the rest of his career and served as Armstrong County District Attorney for many years.  When he retired, he moved to his hunting camp in Marienville, where he lived the remainder of his life.  Dale enjoyed hunting, fishing, and running his dogs at the Beagle Club.  He loved watching and feeding the wildlife at his camp. He was an avid reader of newspapers and magazines and was a Pittsburgh sports fan.  When in Kittanning, he enjoyed spending time with friends at the Hilltop.  When in Marienville, he loved hosting the many visitors who stopped by to sit around the kitchen table to talk, watch for deer, turkey, birds, and have a drink.  In addition to the Armstrong County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, Dale belonged to many social and fraternal organizations during his years in Kittanning.  He especially enjoyed the Buffalo Valley Beagle Club and his years working through the chairs to become Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge No. 203, where he was a lifetime member. In Marienville, he was an active member and President of the Marienville Rod & Gun Club, where he fed the fish and worked the hatchery. 

Dale is survived by his daughter, Kathleen and husband, Daniel Walters, of Manor Township, and son, Richard and wife, Sandy Claypool, of Pocono Pines, Pa.; grandchildren, Julienne Walters, of Kittanning, Kerrienne and husband, Chad Danka, of Sarver, and Daniel Dale and wife, Lauren Walters, of Manor Township; great-grandchildren, Owen and Hudson Danka, and Adrienne Taylor Walters; and his beloved dog, Fred.  Dale was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret (Baylor) Claypool; sister, Bonnie Jean McKinley; granddaughter, Adrienne Lee Walters; and his beloved dogs, Kelly, Sam, and Piute.  Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home, 200 S. McKean St., Kittanning. Additional visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Burial Estates, with military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dale’s honor can be made to the Marienville Rod & Gun Club, P.O. Box 631, Marienville, Pa. 16239.

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