Obituary

Clarence Oister 1 Apr 1926 - 13 Apr 2009

Served in United States Marine Corps (USMC) during WWII.

Clarence enlisted in the USMC at age seventeen and served from 1942 to 1946. During this period he was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion 23rd Regiment of the 4th Marine Division and deployed to The Pacific Theater of operations. He saw action in the invasions of Roi-Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Clarence received the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, The Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal with four stars designating four campaigns that he served in and the WWII Victory Medal.

After release from active duty, Clarence returned to his family and resumed his role in the civilian community. While his primary occupation was that of independent construction contractor, Clarence found time and ways to help those less fortunate. He provided and staffed a home for those who required assisted living while he was in Pennsylvania and later in Montgomery, Alabama. While residing in Covington, Georgia, Clarence was instrumental in the operations of “Jolly Home” which provided residence and services for sick and special needs children. He enjoyed pursuing his hobbies of fishing and card playing. Clarence was a serious fan of the movies and indicated that if he had been afforded the opportunity, he would have loved to pursue a career in acting. Clarence and his wife, June were married for thirty-one years and enjoyed a devoted rich life together. Clarence has three children from a previous marriage, and June, one daughter.

June wrote about Clarence:

In word and deed no one whoever met Clarence Oister will forget him. He reached the whole spectrum of mankind. Love of life and the living was his very being. I thank God every day for letting me be part of his life. He answered to a higher calling and we still benefit from his example. We are blessed to have known him. He has worked in a pie factory, taken care of the sick and fought for our country.

What is a life-Some find it early on. Some continue to look for it and never really latch on to it. Clarence found it at a very young age. He made it a daily practice to help someone less fortunate than himself in any way he could. He continues to do this as an example of what each of us can do to help someone each day.