Elmer Frank Clum              Jan. 5, 1916 — Sept. 30, 2007

Elmer Frank Clum, 91, a longtime resident of Albany, went to be with the Lord Sunday after battling colon cancer.

He was born in Pleasant Hill (near Eugene), the son of Frank and Freda (Kloster) Clum. He lived in Tacoma, Wash., and Barlow, Milwaukie and Lacomb before moving to Albany, where he graduated from Albany High School. He entered the Army Air Corps a year before World War II. He learned the machinist trade, which he enjoyed. He spent 29 months overseas in Egypt, North Africa, and over 20 months in Italy and advanced from private to tech-sergeant.

Elmer married Lauralee Reeser on Dec. 7, 1945, in Albany. He was a loving husband for almost 62 years.  He worked 25 years at the U.S. Bureau of Mines and seven years at Oremet. He had a strong work ethic that he instilled in his three children, Karen, John and Ted.

Elmer was saved at age 30 and the church and prayer became central in his life. He rejoiced to see others come to the Lord. He was involved in many projects at church and taught Sunday school. He had a heart for missions, supporting many missionaries. In 1978, he took John and Ted along to OMS in Brazil to work on a church building. He later took Lauralee, Karen and Charles to OMS Japan and worked on the youth camp at Oshima Island.

He is survived by wife Lauralee Clum of Albany; children Karen Simon and husband Charles of Florence, John Clum and wife Roxann of Federal Way, Wash., and Ted Clum and wife Debbie of Kent, Wash.; grandchildren Eric Simon and wife Brandie, Chad Simon and wife Chonda, Larry Clum and wife Ricca, Nancy Frigaard and husband Rick, Steve Clum and wife Monica, Tina Hern and husband Chris, and Alex Clum; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and sister Velma Warren of Forest Grove. He was preceded in death by sister Ida Reeser.

A funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at South Albany Community Church. Committal service will follow at Willamette Memorial Park.  Contributions may be made to OMS International Missions or South Albany Community Church in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).