Kester Charles Claypool

Kester Charles The Iron King Claypool, 83, of Thruston, died Wednesday, January 5, 2005, at Wellington Parc. He was born April 10, 1921 to the late Jim and Anna Duffy Claypool in Hacker Valley, WV. Kester was a second helper on one of the 60-ton electric furnaces at Jessops Green River plant. He was a man of many talents. First, he was a steel manhe was employed at Green River since 1953 and previously worked five years on the furnace crew at a Copperweld plant. He was also an expert photographer and has taken hundreds of photographs for Green River Steel and for the Jessop Journal. He won several awards, the most outstanding is a gold cup for first place in the Monochrome National Photography Contest. He had a home photo studio and laboratory equipment, including several cameras, and the equipment necessary for developing, printing, and enlarging photographs. Kester was a pilot, flying his own 1948 Stinson, which had a cruising speed of 130 miles per hour. He not only flew for the thrill of it, but used the plane to enable him to take many aerial photographs. His aerial shots of Green River Steel has been featured in past issues of the Journal. He was active in stock car and drag racing, and has won several trophies in district competition. Kester owned an ususual war record. During World War II he served in the First Infantry Division, a unit which distinguished itself for its part in the North African invasion. The divisions commanding general was the son of former President Theodore Roosevelt. The battalion commander Major Dwight David Eisenhower, and a member of the battalion was Pvt. Nelson Rockefeller. Wounded and captured by the Germans in the North African Campaign, Kester was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in Hammerstein, Germany, where he spent 27 months. He attended Thruston United Methodist Church, a veteran of WW II, POW at Stalag 2-B, a member of VFW, American Legion, DAV, and Purple Heart Association. He was a boxer, loved going to garage sales and was famous for his fudge candy.

He was prededed in death by a sister, Anna Jean Bender in 2004.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Arlene Claypool; three sons, Jay, Terry and Chris Claypool, all of Owensboro; one grandson, Jason Claypool; two brothers, Jim McKissic of Hacker Valley, WV, and John Claypool of Berkley Springs, WV; two sisters, Carol Tomes and Shelvey Ash, both of Wellington, OH.

Funeral services will be 11:30 AM Saturday, at Glenn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 5:00 until 8:00 PM Friday, and after 10:00 AM Saturday at the funeral home. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 676. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Thruston United Methodist Church Bldg. Fund, 5551 Hwy 405, Owensboro, KY, 42303.