Obituary of Clarence Earl Trotter

Clarence E. Trotter, 99, of State College died on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at The Village at Penn State. Clarence was born in December 27, 1916, in a farm house in Salix, PA, the son of Robert and Bertha Thomas Trotter. He had three siblings, Ila June Martin, Robert John, and Carol Grace, all of whom survive him. He graduated from Adams Township High School, Sidman, PA in 1933, and from The Pennsylvania State College in 1938 with a BS Degree in Agricultural Education. Clarence was President of the Collegiate Chapter of Future Farmers of America, President of Agricultural Student Council, and elected to three honorary fraternities, Alpha Tau Alpha, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi. He began the Vocational Agriculture program at Marion Center High School in Indiana County in 1938 and taught there for six years. Clarence volunteered for military service in 1944 and served in the U.S. Army until 1946 and was honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant. After the military he taught the first class of On-The-Farm Training for veterans in Wayne County in 1946 and was supervisor of four additional classes when he resigned to begin graduate studies at Penn State. He received a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics in 1955 from the University of Minnesota. Clarence married Margaret Allaine Kirchner, daughter of Anthony and Marie Berris, on August 31, 1947. He later joined the faculty of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Penn State in 1949, retiring in 1977 as a Professor of Marketing. During his tenure, within the department he chaired the following committees: Undergraduate Curriculum, Undergraduate Advising, and Advisor of the Ag Economic Club. Within the College of Agriculture, he served as the chairman of the Curriculum Committee and Student Re-instatement Committee. He was also in the National Agricultural Economics Association and was appointed Chairman of the Student Activities Committee and was a member of the committee which developed the Outstanding Teacher award and later served as chairman. Clarence went on an assignment in Argentina for three months to study the marketing channels for apples, and then spent three months in five western European countries evaluating the marketing opportunities for Argentine apples and wrote a report on his findings. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for over fifty-five years, and served as Vice-President and President of the Official Board and was Chairman of the Music Committee for seven years, which developed three choirs for children and students. He held every office in the Brotherhood Class and served as song leader, as well. Clarence was a charter member and sang with the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus for over forty-two years and in the Knight Shadows and Nittany Notes quartets. In the Chorus, he served as President and Show Chairman and received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his efforts. Clarence was an avid hunter, fisher, gardener, beekeeper, and barber shopper. Clarence gave fourteen years of public service to College Township: seven years on the Planning Committee and seven years on the Council. During that period the Nittany Mall and Hills Shopping Plaza were developed. In addition to his three siblings, Clarence is survived by three children, Terry Wayne Trotter of Woodbridge, VA, Linda Dee Trotter of Woodbridge, VA, and Robert Jeffrey Trotter and his wife, Debra, of Lake Mary, FL; and two grandchildren, Kelli Megan Brosnan and Devin Elizabeth Brosnan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, on March 8, 2007, and daughter, Susan Gaye Trotter on August 14, 2011. A visitation will be held from 4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. The funeral service will be held at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave, State College, with Rev. Eric Shafer officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hall Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Alzheimer's Association, 270 Walker Dr., Suite 201-B, State College, PA 16801, in memory of Clarence E. Trotter. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.