Elden L. McClintock

Elden L. McClintock a lifetime farmer in Hancock County was born Oct. 11, 1925 at West Point, Illinois. The son of James W. McClintock and Letha (Frey)McClintock.  Elden married Alice Faye Smith of Bowen in 1946 in San Diego, CA. Elden was serving in the Navy aboard the USS Fanshaw Bay aircraft carrier and was in the battle of Leyte Gulf supporting MacArthur’s landing in the Philippines and was on the first ship to enter Tokyo Bay at the signing of the surrender of Japan. Elden and Faye returned to the farm after WWII to continue farming where he was active in the community. He was a 50 plus year Mason, member of the VFW and American Legion serving as past commander, volunteer fireman, lifetime member of the Hancock Historical Society, Western Illinois Old Thrashers Reunion, Republican Precinct Committeeman and member of the Denver Christian Church.  Elden organized the first little league and Pony league softball teams in S. Hancock County and was coach for many years for the youth teams. He was a very popular softball pitcher as manager and coach for the West Point men teams, plus playing for Bowen and Denver traveling teams for over 20 years.  Elden grew up with his brothers Floyd and Glenn who all helped build the first lighted baseball field in West Point by cutting the poles and attaching new bright shiny coal buckets with light bulbs inside for night time playing. Elden organized in 1979 the reunion of his Navy ship the USS Fanshaw Bay which continues today with the survivors and shipmate families. He was on the Board of Trustees of the USS Fanshaw Bay which helped fund the WWII New Orleans Museum.  His information as the ships historian contributed to a book “Last of the Tin Can Sailors”.  During his farming years he was always active in conservation by building ponds, planting pine trees and contour farming. He and his brothers built a cabin on one of the farms where they actively hunted deer, turkey and other wild game.  He farmed with his father Jim McClintock and his uncle Milo McClintock taking care of their cattle. Later he farmed with his son Ken and grandson Michael McClintock.

He was preceded in death by his wife, A. Faye McClintock; father James W. and his mother Letha (Frey) McClintock, brothers Floyd and Glenn. He is survived by his son and wife (Ken and Lois), grandchildren Melanie(P.J.) Rosentreter, Mary Jo (Curt) Harvey, Micah (Charles) Wickert, Michael (Lexie) McClintock and 10 great grandchildren. Adam, Jay and Dane Rosentreter – Reid Harvey – Grace and Cora Wickert – Alex, Brady, Charlie and Dawson McClintock.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, October 28, 2018, at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with burial to follow in the West Point Cemetery with military rites.  Family will meet friends from 12:00 until time of services at 2:00 at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the West Point Cemetery, Illinois Veteran’s Home or the Hancock County Historical Society.  Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.

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