Rev. Herbert Ellsworth "Herb" Claar

1929 - 2015

The Rev. Herbert "Herb" Ellsworth Claar, M.Div., 86, died December 28, 2015. He died peacefully and pain free at I.U. Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, in the presence of family following complications from aspirated pneumonia.
Born February 15, 1929, in Alum Bank, Bedford County, he was the youngest of three sons of Clyde Adam Claar and Mae Grieff Claar.
After high school graduation, he apprenticed and then worked in the construction business as a plasterer for seven years, until God called him into the Christian ministry.
Growing up in poverty, he and his brothers were lovingly reared by his hardworking single mother, who set a Christian example for her sons. Mr. Claar was always grateful for his hometown church, the Alum Bank E.U.B Church, and the Christian examples and mentors he had there.
At age 25, Rev. Claar enrolled at Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University), a Christian liberal arts school in Marion, Ind. Graduating in 1958, he earned a bachelor's degree with a history major and a double minor in Biblical Literature and English Literature.
While in college, he led three traveling Gospel Teams, served as jail evangelist, was Y.T.C. president, and was elected student council president. During those four years, he worked full-time, established his own plastering business and provided employment for other students.
In his senior year, he met and married a "lowly freshman" girl, Marcille Elaine Staton, who caught his eye in Spanish class. They married on August 30, 1957 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Argos, Ind. They were married for 58 years. She survives.
After graduation, Rev. Claar enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. for three years. He graduated in 1961, earning a Master of Divinity degree. He and his wife both held full-time jobs during those years, plus serving as youth directors and Sunday school teachers at the Short Street Wesleyan Methodist Church in Lexington, Ky. He also served as a jail evangelist.
Licensed in 1960 and ordained in 1961 by the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the E.U.B. Church, Mr. Claar was appointed pastor (1961-1964) to the Oak Ridge Charge of four churches: Fairmount City, Truittsburg, Mount Zion and Oak Ridge.
Then he served Trinity E.U.B. Church in Portage, PA (1965-1974) where his two sons were born. Meanwhile, the E.U.B. and Methodist denominations merged, forming the world-wide United Methodist Church.
From 1974-1983, he pastored First U.M. Church in Punxsutawney. From 1983-1991 he served Circleville U.M. Church at North Huntingdon. He pastored Port Vue U.M. Church, McKeesport, from 1991-1994, retiring from full-time pastoral ministry at age 65.
Throughout his ministry, Rev. Claar placed a strong emphasis on evangelism and world missions, increasing the mission budget at each church and encouraging annual Mission Conferences with guest missionary speakers. Church members were encouraged to participate in short-term experiences on mission fields. He personally went to Haiti and Jamaica.
During Rev. Claar's pastorates, he emphasized spiritual revival and growth, prayer ministries, in-depth Bible studies, robust Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible Schools, strong children's and youth programs, and community outreach. His congregations opened their doors to Boy and Girl Scout troops, preschools, weight loss programs, barbershop singing groups, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, high school football teams and coaches for prayer, and a food pantry.
He encouraged building and remodeling projects, working with church trustees to enhance facilities.
Following retirement, the Claars moved to Muncie, Ind. to join the headquarters staff of Christian Service International, a missions organization providing short-term ministry opportunities in the USA and abroad. He served part time on the CSI staff for five years, while serving the Muncie District of the U.M. Church as an interim pastor, called to fill the pulpit for varying lengths of time in eighteen churches over 42 months.
He became a part-time courier for Mutual Federal Savings Bank in Muncie, Ind. for nine years. He was hired on staff at Gethsemane U.M. Church in Muncie, Ind. and served as part-time Minister of Visitation for nine years, until fully retiring at age 80.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Victor Vyron Claar and his wife, Valerie, of Hot Springs, Ark., and Trevor Adam Claar of Muncie, Ind.; a granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Claar of Carnegie; three step-grandsons, C. Alexander Bearden and his wife, Sarah, of Stafford, Texas, Benjamin M. Bearden and his wife, Rachael, of Jackson, Miss., and Thomas Bearden of Hot Springs, Ark.; 12 nieces and nephews; eight great-nieces and nephews; a great-great-niece; a great-great-nephew; brothers- and sisters-in-law by marriage, Marcia Claar, Bob and Sharon Petty, Fern, Vyron, Victor and Marilyn Staton, Dennis and Edith Harrington and Frieda Wong.
In additional to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John Junior and Perry Christian Claar; a sister-in-law, Elsie Thyra Gaudig Claar; a nephew, John Steven Claar; a brother-in-law, Theodor N.F. Wong; and his mother-in-law, Norma Elaine Staton.
Mr. Claar willed his body to the Indiana University School of Medicine for teaching and research. Upon future cremation, his ashes will be returned to the family for burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Argos, Ind. At that time a Celebration of Life service will be held in Argos, Ind. with a graveside Service of Committal.
In lieu of flowers, a tax-deductible memorial gift can be sent to: Office of Advancement, Asbury Theological Seminary, 204 N. Lexington Ave. Wilmore, KY 40390-9989; and designate your gift for the "Western PA UMC Students Scholarship Fund."