Obituary of Howard E. Claycombe

Rev. Howard Earl Claycombe, Jr. Reverend (Rev.) Howard Earl Claycombe, Jr. passed away on Saturday September 23, 2023, at the age of 95. Rev. Claycombe was a longtime resident of Morrisville, PA, and moved to this area in 1965 as a minister at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, NJ. He was a devoted member and servant of prayer at Bethany Lutheran Church, Trenton, NJ. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of the late Howard Earl Claycombe and Helen Overbeck Claycombe of Chicago, IL., and the brother of the late Hugh O. Claycombe. Rev. Claycombe graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and received his degree of Masters of Divinity in Theology from Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. Rev. Claycombe wanted people to know him as a disciple of Jesus. During the more than 60 years of his ministry, his desire was to spread Jesus' message of faith, hope, love and forgiveness. He ministered to thousands, whether it was congregational, counseling, marital, baptismal or funeral. In remembrance of unknown Veterans, he volunteered every month for several years as minister at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. Rev. Claycombe was also Chaplin at Jones Farm, a work camp for non-violent criminal offenders, where he became known as 'The Rev'. In his later years, he had great joy in also earning the title of 'Bar Minister', as he loved a glass of wine and a conversation. Husband of the late Grace Edwards Claycombe, and father of the late Helen Grace Claycombe, he is survived by his children; Miriam Ann Kornacki, (Son-In-Law-Christopher Kornacki), Howard Earl Claycombe, III (aka Lauren Clayton), John Edwards Claycombe, and Peter Overbeck Claycombe, granddaughters Stephanie Colorado Trachtenberg (Marc Trachtenberg) and Ashley Taylor Murphy (Isaac Murphy), and two great-grandsons, Sanford Joel and Abram Grant Trachtenberg. Friends and family are invited to call from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday September 28, 2023, at the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, 17 S. Delaware Avenue (River Road), Yardley, PA 19067. On Friday, September 29, 2023, there will be a viewing at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648. Private burial will be in the Oakmont-Verona Cemetery in Oakmont, PA. Flowers may be from https://www.flowersbyjennielynne.com/ in Fairless Hills, Pa. Or In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN https://trentonsoupkitchen.org/ Condolences for the family can be left at www.fitzgeraldsommerfuneralhome.com.