Rev. , 77, of Decatur died on April 29, 2014 at 3:30 a.m. at the Sanctuary at the Woodlands, Cullman, after an extended illness. Visitation will be held tonight from 6 to 8 at Roselawn Funeral Home, 741 Danville Rd., SW, Decatur. Services will be held Saturday, May 3rd at 1 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, Hwy. 31 (6th Avenue), Decatur, 616 Jackson Street with burial in Forrest Cemetery, 15th Street, Gadsden, to follow after service in Decatur, May 3rd.
Rev. Clotfelter was born on January 24, 1937, Mobile, to the late H. Roy Clotfelter and the late Emilee Stephens Clotfelter. The family later moved to Decatur and then to Gadsden. He was a 1955 graduate of Gadsden High School and attended Auburn University in Chemical Engineering. He worked as a tool and die maker in Gadsden, and received a call from Christ to enter the pastoral ministry. Shortly after, he met Sandra Hicks of Gadsden on a “blind date” and they were married on August 5, 1960. He was a 1961 graduate of Athens State College and received a Master’s Degree of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1964. He and Sandra returned to Alabama where John became a member of The North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church. During their ministry for Christ, they served the following Church appointments: Mt. Hope, Whorton’s Bend, Central UMC-Gadsden, Ben Hll UMC, – Atlanta, Alexandria, Huffman UMC – Associate; Cedar Bluff, Green Acres – Fairfield; Charge Ethelsville charge (Ethelsville, Forrest, Rene Grove, Tabernacle), Berry Parish – Director, Dadeville, Now Oregon, Riddle’s Chapel, Trinity and Central – Associate. He retired in 2002 and continued to work as the Director of Older Adult Ministry at Central UMC. He worked until his extended illness prevented his active ministry.
John was also a graduate of The Birmingham Police Academy and served as Chaplain and an auxiliary policeman in Birmingham and auxiliary Deputy in the Sheriff’s Department of Dekalb County and Police Department of Columbus, MS.
He was a member of the Huffman Masonic Lodge and the Zamora Shrine Temple of Birmingham. He served as an umpire and coach, Dixie Youth and Babe Ruth Baseball Leagues. He was the statistician for the Dadeville High School football team. He was a member of Cherokee County Rescue Squad. He served eight years as a member of the Town and Country Section of the Board of Missions. He served as the Director of Outdoor Camping for Youth at Camp Sumatonga. He and Sandra were family counselors for Junior High Youth Camps at Sumatonga. He and his parents were part of the founders of Rainbow City UMC, Gadsden. He was a Boy Scout Leader wherever he lived. He sewed as a member of the various districts on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
He was a fisherman and a hunter and was an active member of the Sid Hicks Hunting Club, Gadsden.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert B. Clotfelter of Huntsville.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Hicks Clotfelter; two sons, Col. Kevin D. Clotfelter (Laurie) of Perry, GA and Ivan B. Clotfelter (Sophia) of Decatur. He believed that one of the best things he and Sandra enjoyed were their grandchildren, Adam Hammett (Jennifer), Abilene, TX and Joseph Hammett (Kristin), Warner-Robbins, GA., Anna Catherine Clotfelter and Stella Ruth Clotfelter of Decatur; three great-grandchildren, Payton Hammett, Warner-Robbins, GA, Emerson Hammett and Miles Hammett, Abilene, TX. He is survived by one brother, Ret. Capt. Wayne R. Clotfelter (Brenda) of Tallahassee, FL., and one sister-in-law, Sidney Anne Hicks Waters (Jim) of Athens, GA, and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Bill Brazelton, Jim Callahan, Stanley Fields, Richard Gregory, Ralph Huff and Jerry Thrasher.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Sages, (Older Adults) Central UMC, Decatur and the members (Adult Cancer Survivors) and counselors of Camp Bluebird.
The family expresses their appreciation to the Staff of Decatur Health and Rehab, USA and Sanctuary at the Woodlands, Cullman, for their faithful care and service during his illness and Dr. Roger Moss Jr.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Decatur-Morgan Foundation (For Camp Bluebird), P.O. Box 2239 Decatur, AL 35609 and The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
