Clay Wispell

Clay Wispell was born September 28, 1935 in San Diego, CA to Ardis McKnight Wispell and Harold I Wispell. He grew up in Los Angeles and was a graduate of Manual Arts High School, where he was also involved in Army ROTC.

He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mississippi in 1960 and completed the coursework for a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering the following year, while continuing his service with Army ROTC.

In 1960, Clay eloped with the love of his life: Carolyn Lunday.

Clay joined the US Army in 1961 and spent two years active duty at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ, where he worked as a research physicist.

In 1963, he went to work for Chance Vought Astronautics Division as an operation analyst and remained there through various names (currently Lockheed Martin) until retirement in 2011. He worked on programs that ranged from manned and unmanned tactical and strategic systems from deep submersibles to sislunar vehicles for civilian and military operations and data collection. Most of his work experience was as a physicist or mathematician.

Clay served on the board of the Corvair Society of America for six years, including five years as treasurer. He was an active member of North Texas Corvair Association, serving twice as president and activities director, and several years as newsletter editor. Clay considered his Corvair friends his second family.

In addition to his car hobby, he enjoyed working with computers, photography, travel of all kinds but especially cruises. He was an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan.

Clay is survived by Carolyn, wife of 53 years; son Clay II and wife Sue, of Selina, TX; daughter Victoria and husband Bill Ingraham of Redlands, CA; granddaughters Brittany Wispell and Jordan Ingraham Wispell and grandsons Jeff Wispell and Austin Wispell Ingraham; cousins, Virginia Lee Hepps, Judy Jasper, and Joe Witt.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at Moore Funeral Home South Chapel, 1219 N. Davis Drive, in Arlington. A reception will follow the services in the Moore south reception room.