Clara Mae Foddrill

Clara Mae Foddrill, 91 of Spencer passed away on Tuesday Oct 31st at the Richland Bean Blossom Health Care Center in Ellettsville. She lived a long and rich life. Clara Mae was born in Lowell Michigan on April 30, 1926 to Roscoe and Evangeline Bridges Butz. Clara grew up near Bloomfield graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1944. After graduation Clara moved to Indianapolis where she met her husband John while working at the Indianapolis Airport after the war. They had many happy years together until John’s unexpected death in 1979. She never remarried. Clara retired from Thompson Consumer Electronics in 1986 where she worked for many years as a secretary in the Manufacturing/Engineering office. Her retirement was due to a reduction in force, however it took two people to replace her at that time. She went on to begin another career working for Sears Roebuck and finally retired (again) from there in the late 1990’s. She was a long time member of the Spencer United Methodist Church and focused on service to the church as well in her retirement. Clara also helped raise her grandchildren over the years and was fondly known as ‘Mom’ by them when they were younger. Eventually that nickname morphed into Grand Mom in an attempt to keep a couple of people straight in the family. No one knows how that came to be her name but ‘Mom’ she was. In recent years she has spent many happy hours with her great grandchildren and has read many books to them, some books over and over again. One great grandson was particularly fond of running off with her cane, which frustrated her immensely. Even toward the last she was reaching for her great granddaughter whenever she was around. Surviving relatives include her daughter Deb Smith of Ellettsville, grandchildren Aaron Z (Randi) Smith, and Elizabeth R (Josh) Smith, 3 great grandchildren, a brother George (Sue) Butz, 2 nephews and a great neice and great nephews. Clara also had the excellent help of a couple of neighbors, especially Darin Winders who lightened up her life with gifts of food and humor. Susan Anderson, the sister of her late son in law, was also a great comfort over the last year with lots of support and companionship. Clara was preceded in death by her husband, John Allen Foddrill, her parents, and a sister Leah Margaret Hasler. Clara had a sweet friendly smile and made friends wherever she went. She will be sorely missed by all her knew her. Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Jenkins Funeral Home in Bloomfield, with Pastor Drew Baker officiating. Interment will follow in Grandview cemetery in Bloomfield. Public Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral Home. Online condolences to the family are available at www.jenkinsfuneralhomes.com.

Clara Mae Foddrill

April 30, 1926 - October 31, 2017