Longtime Knoxville businessman Walter Augustine Clancy II, who was a member of one of the Knoxville area’s oldest Catholic families, died in his sleep on Nov. 16.
Mr. Clancy, of Clancy’s Service Stamp Co. in Knoxville, was born to John A. and Ellen Joy Clancy on Feb. 6, 1934, the eighth of 13 children. He became known to many as “Ben.”
Mr. Clancy attended St. Mary School next to Immaculate Conception Church on Vine Avenue, where he learned from the Sisters of Mercy and served as an altar boy.
He graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School in 1954, where he served as a class officer for all four years and was president of his class his senior year.
He attended the University of Tennessee before joining the U.S. Army. He was proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight in Knights of Columbus Council 645.
Mr. Clancy is predeceased by his parents, his siblings Teresa Clancy Irwin, Mary Clancy Williams, Ellen Clancy Pickering, Joy Clancy Carden, Joseph Lawrence Clancy II, John A. Clancy Jr., Thomas S. Clancy II, Frances Clancy Noe, and Annunciata Clancy Nutter; nieces Marie Williams and Elizabeth Anna Clancy, nephews John Irwin Jr., Skid Williams Jr., John Clancy Pickering, Frank G. Pickering, Gene Nutter Jr., and Gregory Nutter; and great-nephew Matthew S. Kirrman.
He is survived by sister Patricia Clancy Winter and brother Daniel A. Clancy (Diana) and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews, special friend Letha Lehman, and dear friends Jim Grigsby and David McCarley.
A rosary for Mr. Clancy was prayed on Nov. 23 led by Father John Orr and assisted by Father Valentin Iurochkin.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Clancy was celebrated by Father Orr at Holy Ghost Church on Nov. 24, with Father Iurochkin serving as concelebrant. Deacon Gordy Lowery assisted at the Mass.
A burial service followed at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers included Mr. Clancy’s nephews Brett Nutter, John Irwin III, Nathan Irwin, Patrick Pickering, John Pickering, Rob Hunter, Will Brewer, William Edward Lovelace, and Michael Kirrman. Honorary pallbearers were Anthony Irwin, Tom Carden, Jim Pickering, Ron Rochelle, Wes Morgan, Charles Susano Jr., and David McCarley.