Richard D Clabaugh

Richard "Dick" Delmar Clabaugh, 84, peacefully joined the Kingdom of God on March 6, 2010, at the Powell Valley Care Center. His wife and children were by his side.

Dick was born July 2, 1925, in Fordyce, Nebraska, to Guy and Opal (Collier) Clabaugh. The family lived in Belden, Nebraska where he started attending school at the early age of four. While still in elementary school, the family relocated to Arvada, Wyoming, where at the age of sixteen he graduated High School.

Too young to join the military during WWII, he, his father, and an uncle went to work in the shipyards in Vancouver, Washington. When the shipyards found out his real age, they fired him, but by then he was old enough to join the military. In late 1943, he enlisted in the Navy as an aviation cadet, but the war ended before he could be sent overseas. During his naval air training he attended numerous schools and developed a love for learning and education.

Upon being honorably discharged, he attended the University of Wyoming, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. He then took a teaching position in Encampment, Wyoming where he met his wife to be: Margaret May Herring. They were married on March 1st, 1952. In 1954, they moved to Lusk, Wyoming where he had taken another teaching position.

In 1956, after receiving his Master's Degree from the University of Wyoming, he went to work for the University as an extension officer assigned to Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming. After working for the University a short time, he went to work for the Community College. In 1971, he received his Doctor of Education degree from Texas A&M University.

During his time at at the community college, he taught numerous subjects and retired in 1986 as an Associate Dean of Vocational Education.

Besides his love for teaching, he often worked summers as a carpenter. And yet he always found time to take his family camping and fishing - something he enjoyed throughout his life.

He was a member of the Wyoming Vocational Teachers Hall of Fame; a life member of the National Education Association and Wyoming Education Association; a past president of the Powell FOE Club; and a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.

His parents and three brothers preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years: Margaret; children Curtis Clabaugh, Robin (Chuck) Inman, and David Clabaugh all of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Hollie (Tim) Bruner of Ryegate Montana; brother Garnet (Jackie) Clabaugh of Green Valley, Arizona; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, in Powell, on Wednesday , March 10th, at 10:00 AM.

Memorials may be to St. John's Episcopal church or The Grand Encampment Museum in Encampment, Wyoming.