Blaine Carlton Clingerman, Jr.
1947-2022
Blaine Carlton “Possum” Clingerman, Jr., age 74, of Great Cacapon, W.Va., died on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.
Born September 26, 1947 in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., he was the son of Janesta Josephine Keefer Clingerman of Hagerstown, Md. and the late Blaine Carlton Clingerman, Sr.
He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Great Cacapon.
Blaine was a graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and first worked as a surveyor.
He served with the U.S. Army from November 18, 1966 until his honorable discharge at the rank of SP5 on November 17, 1969. He was proud to be a Vietnam veteran. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Aircraft Crewman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze Service Star and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He worked for many years at Londontown Coat Factory in Hancock, at Pittman’s Liquor Store and retired from NAPA in Hancock. He was an EMT and longtime member of Morgan County Rescue Squad and Great Cacapon Volunteer Fire Department.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, collecting ink pens and spending time with his family.
He was a member of the Wednesday morning breakfast club at the Bridge Restaurant.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Phyllis Jean Stotler Clingerman, at home, his children, Gloria VanGosen and her husband Darrell of Great Cacapon, JoAnn Merchant and her husband Kenneth, Dale Clingerman and his wife Judy, all of Berkeley Springs and Amy “Nikki” (Punkin) Clingerman of Great Cacapon, two sisters, Loretta Swain of Hagerstown and Kimberly Sharp of Michigan, eight grandchildren, Shawn VanGosen, Michael VanGosen and Carlton W. VanGosen, all of Great Cacapon, Misty Henderson and her spouse Donald and Amanda Henderson and her spouse Robert, all of Paw Paw, W.Va., Kenneth “Lil Kenny” Merchant II, Kevin Merchant and Kyle Merchant, all of Berkeley Springs, 17 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother, William Clingerman.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. where military honors will be provided by the Tri-State Honor Guard. Pastor Richard Craig will officiate. Private interment will be in Mt. Nebo Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 4 -7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations to help defray funeral expenses may be made to Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
