Arthur W. Clapp

WALPOLE — Arthur W. Clapp, a long time Walpole resident, passed away peacefully at home on October 22, 2007, at age 92.

A descendent of Walpole's original settlers, he was born on January 29, 1915, in Norfolk, MA and received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

Arthur joined P. R. Allen, Philip Metcalf and David Ogilvie as founders of the Walpole Woodworkers in 1938. He still served as Chairman of the Board of the company at the time of his passing.

Over the years, Arthur was active in the Walpole community: as a Little League coach, a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Footlighters, on the vestry of the Epiphany Episcopal Church and the Board of Directors of the Norwood and Southwood hospitals. Also, he was a life member of the Walpole Country Club, where he served as president and enjoyed a memorable match with his son, grandson and great grandson.

The essence of his life was his devotion to his family. He shared a fulfilling marriage to Anna Laura Dorsey, his wife of 62 years until her passing in 2002. He is predeceased by his older brothers Schuyler L. and John E. Clapp and his younger sister Martha E. Corey.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Martha L. Clapp. With Ann, he raised four children, Priscilla, Stephen, Douglas and Virginia, and embraced an extended family, including Judy Quinn, his children's spouses, 5 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Arthur also is survived by beloved companion Elaine Siegel, with whom he enjoyed a new lease on life in his golden years.

Of no small significance was his love for the family cabin at Pleasant River Lake in Maine, butter crunch ice cream and the Boston sports teams. An avid fan, he was delighted on the night before his passing to see the Red Sox defeat the Cleveland Indians, thus avenging the Indians' victory over his Boston Braves in 1948.

Visiting hours will be held at James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common St., Walpole on Sunday, October 28, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service in the Epiphany Episcopal Church, 62 Front St., Walpole on Monday, October 29, at 11 AM and the internment at Maple Grove Cemetery, Kendall St., Walpole.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Lung Association of New England, Inc., 460 Totten Pond Road, Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451 or the Walpole Scholarship Foundation, 3 West St., Walpole, MA 02081.