CLARENCE " SCOTTY" J. KLEPPNER

Clarence John "Scotty" Kleppner, 85 of San Angelo passed away on January 29, 2006 at Community Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. Family visitation will be held at 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Graveside service will held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at Fairmount Cemetery with Rev. Ken Dahlberg of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church officiating. Scotty was born December 11, 1920 to William and Florence Kleppner in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso High School and attended the Central YMCA College in Chicago. While attending college he joined the U.S. Army Airforce in 1942 to serve his country in WW II. Scotty trained as a bombardier at Concho Field, now known as Mathis Airport. He graduated in 1943 and was assigned to the 451st Bomb Group which deployed late that year to North Africa. Flying from bases in Italy, he completed 19 combat missions over Germany and the Balkans. He was transferred to the 303rd Bomb Group in England were he completed 25 combat missions over many difficult targets, twice flying back with a nearly inoperable aircraft. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and the ETO Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars. In 1945 he returned to San Angelo to train as a pilot at Goodfellow Airbase. At this time he met the life long love of his life, Chrystal Faye Wood of Wall, Texas. While in training, the war ended and he married Chrystal Wood in October 6, 1945. They were married for 60 years living in Chicago for 3 years and returned to San Angelo in 1948. He worked as a printer for many years at Holcomb-Blanton Printery until they closed, then worked at San Angelo Standard Times before ending his career at Western Printing. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He is survived by his wife Chrystal, son Ronald Kleppner, daughter Sherry Crowder and husband James, all of San Angelo; a brother, Wallace Kleppner of Downers Grove, Illinois; two grandchildren, Angela Fae Hill and Jason Wayne Kleppner, both of San Angelo; sister-in-law and husband Ginger and H.O. Broadnax of Wall, Texas; cousin Gwen Merka of San Angelo and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made in Mr. Kleppner's honor to the American Heart Association, 3135 Executive Drive, San Angelo, 76904.