James Rittenhouse Clemens

James Rittenhouse Clemens, 94, of Goshen, died early Thursday morning, January 10, 2008, at Greencroft Healthcare after suffering a heart attack on December 31, 2007. He was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1913, to Jacob C. and Hanna (Rittenhouse) Clemens.  He married Eva Moyer on May 25, 1946, in Line Lexington, Pennsylvania.  She preceded him in death on January 31, 1987. A 1931 graduate of Lansdale High School, Mr. Clemens graduated from Goshen College in 1935 with a BA in English and French.  He taught English and French in southeastern Pennsylvania junior and senior high schools in the years preceding and immediately following WWII.  Between 1942 and 1946 he served as educational director at Civilian Public Service Camps in Luray, Virginia and Dennison, Iowa.  In 1950 he received his Master of Library Science from Columbia University in New York City.  He moved to Goshen in 1950 to become librarian at Goshen College where he worked until his retirement in 1980.  He continued to volunteer at the library until 2003. A member of College Mennonite Church, he served on commissions and as a Sunday school teacher.   Mr. Clemens was a longtime member of Goshen Community Chorale and the nature club.  He enjoyed reading, classical music, choral music, birdwatching and crossword puzzles. He is survived by two sons, James William (Margaret Ann) Clemens and Frederick Paul Clemens, both of Goshen; two grandsons; one granddaughter; three step-granddaughter;  and six, step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva; three brothers, Ernest, Paul and Jacob Clemens; and two sisters, Ruth and Betty. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, January 12 in the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church and one hour prior to the service on Sunday. A 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 13, 2008, funeral service will be conducted at College Mennonite Church.  Pastors Klaudia Smucker and Betty Hochstetler will officiate. Burial will be in Violett Cemetery, Goshen on Monday, January 14. Memorial contributions may be made to Goshen College Library.