Clara Ginn, daughter of Francis and Ethel Cottle was born on October 15, 1937 in Wellington, KS. She attended Rome Country School throughout her youth and was a graduate of the Class of 1955 from Wellington High School. She met her lifelong partner Gary Orville Ginn at a river party hosted by the Corbin Methodist youth gr
oup and later married him on July 1, 1956 at the Corbin Church. Their first home was a mile south of Corbin where they began married life with no water, no electricity, or any amenities for a year before moving on to another home. The young couple had all three children, Wanda, Danny and Russell and made their lives in the Corbin area until after all children had left the home.
Clara’s primary role was a caregiver to her children, but was also the bookkeeper for Rice Oil and Corbin Lumber and LP Gas. She was a constant to her kids, never missing a single event they participated in and often the stand-in mom for others as well. Later, she built her career as an interior decorator, painting and wallpapering many houses in the county. She became an active member in the fair board, hospital board, UMW and turkey supper chairwoman, community supporter, and Delta Chi sister. Her last job was co-catering with Wanda for weddings and events. But her biggest role was being grandma to ten, great-grandma to eighteen and great-great-grandma to one. In fact, over the years, Grandma Clara became Tippy, a name given by the great-grandkids that she adopted with joy.
Her family cherished her cooking, especially the macaroni and cheese and popcorn balls. She shared her love for cooking, baking and sewing with many and promote
d junior home economics for the Sumner County Fair. She constructed many formal dresses for wedding events in the family also. Her creativity with words and quirky presentations we
re legendary. Whether it be unique jingles she wrote for her voicemail or costumes made for sorority parties, she contributed her zany antics to the delight of everyone.
Clara passed away on July 29, 2022 at her home in Caldwell. She is preceded in death by her husband Gary of 64 years; parents Francis and Ethel Cottle; sister Elva, infant brother Eldon, son-in-law Clint and grandson George.
She is survived by her children Wanda, Danny and his wife Dee, and Russ and his wife Karen; grandchildren Jake, Kyane, Codi, Shalinn, Mallory, Keith, Lauren, Jenny, Louie, and Katie; many great-great-grandkids along with nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her and her canine companion, Mollie.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at the Corbin United Methodist Church, Corbin, Kansas with Reverend Keith Ginn officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Sumner County District #1 Hospital or to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research and sent in care of the mortuary.
Visitation will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday.
