Keith ClawsonRICHMOND, Ind. - Keith Clawson, 72, of Richmond, passed away peacefully at Reid Hospital Hospice on Saturday, June 4, following a seven-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The son of the late Ralph E and Ruth (Kroma) Clawson, he was born on Sept. 6, 1938. Keith was a life-long resident of the Richmond area. He married Diana Jo Bertsch on Nov. 1, 1959, and raised two sons, Allen R. Clawson (Elaine Fontaine) of Chepachet, R.I., and Jay Clawson of Losantville, Ind.A 1957 graduate of Lincoln High School, Keith served as a highly skilled machinist for the Perfect Circle, Alcoa, and Silgan plants in Richmond. He completed a four-year apprenticeship with Alcoa where he was employed for 38 years as a tool and die maker. He developed a patented closure for the company. An avid collector of antique pocket watches, clocks, knives, coins, and various other artifacts, he frequently applied his mechanical genius to the manufacture of parts and display apparatus. The excellence of his watch collection was recognized through awards from the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. He also enjoyed travel, golf, gardening and spending time with family especially his two granddaughters, Hannah and Abra Clawson; and two stepgranddaughters, Kate and Carly Taylor. Keith was a deacon and long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He devoted many hours of service to the church and non-profit organizations in the community. In addition to his wife, sons and grandchildren, Keith's survivors include brother, David (Gay) Clawson of Round Rock, Texas; sister, Ruth (Tim) Seffrin of Hagerstown, Ind.; sister, Judy (Ron) Shook of Garrett, Ind.; sister, Linda (Blaine) Van Winkle of Richmond, Ind.; brother, Ed (Vikki) Clawson of Athens, Ga.; brother, Mike (Farilyn) Clawson of Connersville; sister-in-law, Jeanne Clawson Wonderly of Hamilton, N.Y.; and uncle, B. P. (Red) Davis of Richmond, Ind. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmothers, Peggy Clawson and Donna Clawson; and brother, Robert Clawson.A celebration of life reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (2300 W. Main St., Richmond IN 47374). A memorial service will follow. Rev. Daniel Nugget will officiate. Burial will be at 5 p.m. on June 11, 2011, at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Pershing, Ind.In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully encourages memorial contributions to the , Wayne County Unit, 4567 Progress Dr., Columbus, IN 47201; Reid Foundation c/o Reid Hospice, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond, IN 47374; or the donor's charity of preference.Funeral arrangements are entrusted by Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at
www.marshallanderleweinfuneralhome.com.
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