Clayton Falkner, 'Mr. Birdville,' championed efforts to restore Harrison war memorial

Clayton Falkner championed the effort to restore Harrison’s crumbling World War II Honor Roll memorial but didn’t get the chance to see it finished.

Mr. Falkner, 84, died Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at the house in the township’s Birdville section where he lived his entire life.

Mr. Falkner began lobbying township officials to work on the memorial at Springhill and Freeport roads three or four years ago, said Bill Rudolph, 81, a lifelong friend who is involved in the memorial project.

“It was history to him,” Rudolph said. “He wanted to see it back in good shape.”

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer about two years ago, his younger son, Joe Falkner, said.

“That project kept him going,” said Joe Falkner, 50, of Whitehall. “He thought it was important to honor the World War II veterans. It was in bad shape. He didn’t want to disrespect the veterans who fought and died for our country that way.”

Mr. Falkner’s brother, Melvin Falkner, was a World War II veteran, and his name is on the memorial, which once featured names painted in gold on black glass. They are being replaced with the names etched into black granite.

The project’s completion has been delayed by the covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m sure he wanted to see it fully done,” Joe Falkner said. “He was happy with the progress that was made. It would have been great to go over and see it completed. He just kind of ran out of time.”

Banners honoring veterans, featuring their photos, were sold to raise money for the memorial project. Mr. Falkner’s is on Freeport Road near Phillippi’s, not far from his home.

Mr. Falkner was drafted into the Army and served from 1958 to 1960. A tank driver in Hawaii, he did not see combat.

“For years he told us, ‘I never want to see another pineapple again,’ ” Rudolph said.

After completing his service, Mr. Falkner worked as a heavy equipment operator for many local companies. A handyman, he liked carpentry and working around his house, Joe Falkner said.

“He was really good at fixing things,” he said.

Mr. Falkner was a life member of Citizens Hose Volunteer Fire Company, as was Rudolph, who said it had been many years since either of them had put on the gear and fought a fire.

Mr. Falkner lived his entire life in the Birdville area of Harrison. His wife of 36 years, Sally A. Falkner, grew up a street over, and they met through a friend of a friend.

His great-grandparents, Richard and Sarah Bird, were the founders of the area.

“He knew the history of Birdville,” Rudolph said. “We called him ‘Mr. Birdville.’ ”

A lover of local history, Mr. Falkner frequently visited the former library branch in Tarentum to go through old microfilm.

Mr. Falkner was a source for Bob Barrage’s book on the history of Birdville, which was centered on its school.

“He was a great help and a great fan of the project,” Barrage said. “He was an excellent source of old stories and photographs.

“He was just a kind, welcoming person. He welcomed me, a total stranger, into his home. He was always welcoming and kind.”

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Falkner is survived by an elder son, Scott Falkner of Harrison, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, 1522 Carlisle St., Harrison.