Clarence L. Wandell, Jr.

Clarence (Clair) L. Wandell went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday March 6, 2024 at the Robert Packer Hospital following a period of declining health. Born September 12, 1939 in Sayre, PA to Clarence L. Wandell and Alice M. (Cole) Wandell, he was a lifelong resident of the valley. He was very proud of his Indian heritage as both of his parents were from the same Indian tribe. He would quite often get the picture of his great, great, great, great grandfather, Chief Little Foot Prints, in full head dress, out to show people.

His parents taught him strong work ethics. When he noticed his friends were getting an allowance, he approached his father one day and ask about getting an allowance, his father took him out to the garage and showed him the push lawn mower and said, “go to it”. His parents already had several garden plots around the neighborhood which he helped with. So, he hooked the lawn mower to his bike and started his lawn mowing business and by the time he graduated from Athens High School in 1957 he had 20+ lawns he was mowing. After graduation he started working at the Acme markets store on Desmond St. in Sayre. The rest of his job career was spent at Stroehmann’s and finally retiring in 1994 after 29 years at IBM in Owego.

Music has been a great part of Clair’s life. He started singing when he was 3 years old dressed in a little sailor suit, standing on a table so he could be seen. He sang “Bell bottom trousers, coat of Navy blue” and “Don’t sit under the apple tree”? He started trumpet lessons in 1st grade and played the trumpet through high school and at church until about 14 years ago. He started voice lessons in 4th grade. He sang in his school chorus, and he was the first one to go to all-state chorus from Athens High School. He has continued to sing for The Lord in church all through his life. He gave his last Gospel concert at the Sayre Health Care Center this last Dec. 28th 2023 where he sang for 40 minutes. Clair loved to use his voice and trumpet to communicate God’s love. On June 28, 1958 he married Linda Rice from East Smithfield. They cherished the sixty- five years God gave them together. They dedicated their lives and marriage to The Lord when they sang the song “May Christ Be Seen In Us” at their wedding. In his spare time one of his hobbies was to be a test grower for Jackson Perkins for 15-20 years. He had many rose bushes and he loved to cut the roses off and drop them on the secretaries’ desk at work. His other hobby was photography. Linda’s job was to put all the pictures in albums. He took thousands of pictures of weddings, scenery, flowers, sunsets and all kinds of events that he attended.

Clair was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church in Athens where he faithfully and willingly served in many capacities. He was elected to be a deacon at the age of 19, which he served for many years. He was a Sunday School Superintendent for 30 years. He started a boys club called the Boys Brigade which lasted for a few years. A couple years later when there were many more kids in the church, the Awana Clubs was started. He and Linda were Co-Commanders of that club for 32 years. Awana Clubs #577 reached many children with the Gospel of Christ. Thousands of children in the valley as well as some from Towanda and Elmira attended this club and were impacted by his leadership.

Clair and Linda loved to travel. They went to Hawaii to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Then in 1976 they decided to take an extended 5-week family motor home trip out west before any of the children left home. After retirement they would spend six to eight weeks in the winter at their timeshares in Florida or Branson, Mo.

In addition to his wife, Linda, Clair is survived by their children, Robert (Brenda) Wandell, Sharon Wandell-Tubbs, and Brenda (Mike)Dudash. Grandchildren include Joy (Joe)Wandell-Darrow, Clint (Melissa) Wandell, Brian Tubbs, Shelby Tubbs, Callyn Dudash, Nathan Dudash, Kasey Dudash, and Jillian Dudash, and three (soon to be four) great grandchildren. Surviving sisters-in-law include Julia Wandell of Waverly, Lucy Campbell of Sayre, and Sylvia Brothers of West Palm Beach, Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins galore. Clair was met in heaven by their infant twin daughter, Karen. His siblings who pre-deceased him were Robert L. Wandell, Shirley Theetge, and Marilyn Vincent, also brothers-in-law Roy Theetge, Duane Vincent, Donald Campbell, and Charles (Tom) Brothers.

A time of visitation will be held on Saturday night from 6-8pm at the Calvary Baptist Church, 701 W. Pine St., Athens. The celebration of Clair’s life will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm at the church with a visiting and refreshment time to follow. For those who want to view the service you may go to https://youtube.com/@calvarybaptistchurchinathe3944?si=Aq9mdAi-grwV4190

A family grave side service will be held at the Tioga Point Cemetery on Monday, March 18th at 10:00 am.

Memorials can be directed to the Calvary Baptist Church, 701 W. Pine St., Athens, PA 18810.

The family is being assisted by the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. Athens.

For those wishing to sign the E-guestbook or send condolences may do so by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com.

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