Clair V. Himes, age 81, of New Bethlehem, passed away late Thursday evening, October 25, 2018 at the McKinley Healthcare Center in Brookville. Born April 15, 1937 in his parent’s farmhouse in Ringgold, Jefferson County, he was a son of the late Paul and Virginia Smith Himes. He was a graduate of Punxsutawney High School and the Cleveland Institute of Electronics.
Following his schooling, Clair worked for Valley Electric as a tv repairman and eventually went to work in the coal mines as a mechanic in the Jane Mine. He retired from R & P Coal Company in 1999. On September 7, 1957, he married the former Lillian E. Shick and she preceded him in death on December 29, 2009.
He then married the former Loretta Eileen Dwyer on October 2, 2010 and she survives. Clair was a member of the now disbanded South Bethlehem Church of God and attended the St. Charles Catholic Church in New Bethlehem for the past eight years. He lived in his home in South Bethlehem Borough for over 60 years, served on Borough Council and was a former member of the MOOSE Lodge of New Bethlehem.
Clair enjoyed working, building, hunting and escorting his wife when she entertained at local nursing homes. He always appreciated a good meal and looked forward to gatherings, especially if food was involved. In addition to his wife, Eileen, he is survived by a son, Tony V. Himes of Mosspoint, Mississippi; two grandsons: Matthew Himes and Nathan Himes; two granddaughters: Toni Himes and Amanda Dashner; two great grandsons, Colton and Trooper Himes; two brothers: Leroy Himes and his wife, Julie, of Ringgold and Wayne Himes and his wife, Joy, of Brookville; a sister, Eva Caylor of Ashtabula, Ohio and a daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Himes of Miola.
Clair is also survived by five stepchildren: Scott Haines of New Bethlehem; Frances Sanford and her husband, Mark, of Templeton; Glenn A. Haines and his wife, Crystal, of New Bethlehem; Tommy Haines and his wife, Andrea, of St. Johns, Florida and Tammy Haines and her friend, Floyd Hayes, of Fairmount City; six step grandchildren: Jessica Altobelli, Kasey, Ty and Cal Haines, Brayden and Delaney Jean Haines and two step great granddaughters, Alara and Abby Altobelli. In addition to his parents and wife, Lillian, Clair was preceded in death by a son, Jamie C. Himes on July 7, 2013; two brothers and their wives: Bernard and Lucille Himes and Pete and Marilyn Himes and one sister, Dorothy Conners. Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, October 28, 2018 in the Rupert Funeral Home and Cremation Service chapel, 233 Penn Street, New Bethlehem.
A Christian Vigil service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 29, 2018 in the funeral home chapel with Father Samuel Bungo, parish priest of the St. Charles Catholic Church, officiating. Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery, Distant, Armstrong County.
Online condolences may be sent to Clair’s family at www.
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