James J. “Jim” McDermott, 94, of Clearfield and most recently of Christ the King Manor, DuBois died Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 at Penn Highland, DuBois.
Mr. McDermott was born Oct. 17, 1920 in Clearfield, the son of Joseph J. and Eleanor (Berthot) McDermott. He had been employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a window clerk for 23 years, retiring in 1979.
Mr. McDermott was a life-long member of the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Clearfield.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served as a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. His plane was shot down, and he was held as a German prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III.
He and his fellow POWS were liberated by General Patton at the end of the war. He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until retirement.
Mr. McDermott was a member of the Clearfield County Historical Society, the Clearfield Elks Lodge No. 540 and the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post No. 6.
He is survived by three daughters, Kathleen Nannery (James) of Auburn, Wash., Diane E. Mathews of Olympia, Wash., and Lynne M. Dudurich (Randy) of Springfield, Va.; a daughter-in-law, Michele McDermott of Seven Fields; three grandchildren, Jacob W. Nannery (Kristen), Kyla M. Galbraith (Jason) and Joseph J. McDermott (Ashley); and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. McDermott was the last member of his generation. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Julia M. “Judy” (Mann) McDermott, whom he married June 30, 1945 and whom died Sept. 13, 2002; a son, Joseph M. McDermott; and all his siblings; Laura Carr, Joan Undercoffer, Emma Veihdeffer, Clemence McDermott, Thomas McDermott and Regina McDermott.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Roman Catholic Church with Father John Miller III as celebrant. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the Clearfield Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday at the Bennett & Houser Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield. The Clearfield Elks Lodge No. 540 will conduct a service at the funeral home at 6:45 p.m.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
To send online tributes, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bennett & Houser Funeral Home, Clearfield.