E. Spencer Claypoole, 83, was reunited in Heaven with the love of his life, Joan Laschenski, on February 2, 2026. He was the eldest son of the late Edward J. and Isabel F. (Wiegand) Claypoole and was raised in Edgemont Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Spencer graduated from St. Charles Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Spencer and Joan were married for 50 years and built a life rooted in family, service, and faith. He is survived by his three children: Gregory F., Theodore F. (Christine), and Dr. Sara E.; four grandsons: Gabriel, Alexander (Nikki), Hayden, and Zachary; and two great-granddaughters. He is also survived by his sister, Adele Winn, and his brothers, Paul (Helen) and David (Lisa).
During his children’s younger years, Spencer was deeply involved in their activities and community life, volunteering as a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts and serving as Treasurer and Vice President of the Coventry Little League. He had a lifelong love of gardening and homesteading—pursuits that reflected his patience, curiosity, and appreciation for history and self-sufficiency.
Spencer devoted more than 30 years of his professional career to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, culminating in his role as Social Work Director at the SEVC in Spring City, PA. After early retirement, he continued his service with an additional five years at Phoenixville Hospital.
His commitment to public service extended well beyond his professional career. Spencer devoted more than two decades to North Coventry Township, serving as a Township Supervisor for 11 years, including time as Vice Chair. He also served as President of the Pottstown Area Council of Governments, Vice Chair of the Open Space Committee, and Chair of the Township Historical Commission, on which he served for nearly 30 years. In 2000, he was formally named Township Historian by the Board of Supervisors.
Through the Open Space Board, Spencer participated in the purchase of Coventry Woods, encompassing 1,310 acres of preserved land, and he co-chaired the annual festivals held there. In his later years, he would enjoy overseeing Coventry Woods from his daughter’s house. His dedication to preserving local history earned him numerous honors, including the Owen J. Roberts Education Foundation’s Community Service Award in 2013 and the prestigious Jane L. S. Davidson Historic Preservation Award in 2016. Spencer authored numerous historical articles and delivered many lectures on the history of North Coventry Township.
Inspired by Joan, Spencer developed a passion for travel, particularly to places of historical significance. His travels included Civil War and Revolutionary War sites throughout the United States, as well as the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, The Hermitage in Russia, and Northborough Manor House in England—home to his Claypoole ancestors for more than 150 years.
A devoted genealogist, Spencer authored four genealogy books—one for each of his grandparents—and generously helped others discover their own family histories. His paternal ancestor, James Claypoole, was a friend of William Penn and helped establish Philadelphia. On his mother’s side, Spencer was a descendant of Adam Eckfeldt, considered the father of the United States Mint in Philadelphia.
Spencer was a longtime parishioner of St. Thomas More Parish, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister for more than 40 years and was a member of the finance committee. His faith guided a life of service, learning, and quiet leadership.
Spencer leaves behind a legacy of service, scholarship, and devotion to preserving history for future generations. His impact on North Coventry Township—and on all who knew him—will be remembered for generations to come.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Parish on Saturday February 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Aloysius New Cemetery, Pottstown. Visitation will be held Friday February 20 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Catagnus Funeral Home & Cremation Center, LLC., 711 N. Franklin St., Pottstown, PA 19464 and again on Saturday February 21 from 10:00-10:45 AM at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Spencer’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=3469&np=true