Besse Marie McClanahan (1889-1995)

William J. Sproull (1891-1944)

Besse Marie McClanahan age 4 (ca. 1903)

Besse Marie McClanahan was born March 4, 1899 in West Union, Ohio, the second daughter of James Franklin McClanahan and Virgie Lee McMillen. She grew up in West Union, Springfield, and Hillsboro, Ohio, where she graduated from High School.

In 1919, in the space of 10 weeks she lost her Mother, Virgie Lee McMillen McClanahan, January 4, 1919; her maternal Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Foster Miller, February 14, 1919; and her paternal Grandmother, Sarah Margaret Zercher McClanahan, March 13, 1919. She was left to care for her Father, James Franklin McClanahan, and 2 younger brothers, Bert Lynch and James Frank McClanahan.

She left home to attend Miami University, Oxford, Ohio and received her Teaching Certificate in 1922 and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1925. Later she received her Master of Science Degree from the Ohio State University, August 29, 1947. Her specialty was Entomology, her thesis was A Study on the Biology of the Black Larder Beetle (Dermestes Ater Degeer). Her advisor was Ralph H. Davidson. The Ohio State Libraries Call Number is:

THESIS MS 1947 S771
OSU Book Depository

On August 8, 1937 she married William J. Sproull. He died November 27, 1944. They did not have any children.

She was a 9th grade science teacher with Columbus Public Schools and finished her career teaching Biology at Northland High School, Columbus, Ohio.

On May 1. 1950, her niece, Carol Anne McClanahan was born. About six weeks later her brother, Dr. Bert L. McClanahan, wanted to take his wife, Anne Elizabeth Preidis to a party. She refused to go and the only way she was persuaded was if Besse would babysit. That began many years of staying overnight at my Aunt's. She continued the tradition many years later babysitting for her great nephews, Scott Matthew and Michael David Gillespie.

She had a big old cat named Butch who I would rock in an old caned rocker that was Grandma McMillen's. There was a spinning wheel from William Sproull's family that was in front of a window. It became a ship's wheel and I sailed many many seas. The antique clock on the mantle that was wound every Saturday night still chimes in my family room. It was part of her household as a child.

I loved to help her grade papers and shadow her at school. She taught me how to knit, make pie crust and fresh peach pie. She would identify any bug we'd find and warned me to stay away from "leaves of three" (poison ivy).

After she retired she traveled through Europe several times with groups of teachers bringing me coins and a rosary blessed by Pope John XXIII. She also visited China and Japan.

She died June 6, 1995 at age 96. She is buried in old Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
June 7, 1995

Sproull
Besse M. Sproull, of Columbus, June 6, 1995 at Friendship Village of Columbus. Retired Biology Teacher from Northland High School. Preceded in death by husband William J. Sproull; Survived by bothers, Dr. Bert L. (Sue) McClanahan and James F. McClanahan, both of Columbus; nieces and nephews. Member of Crestview Presbyterian Church, University Chapter #462 O.E.S. and Clintonville Womans Club. Graduate of Miami University at Oxford and received Masters from Ohio State University.

Funeral service 10:30 a.m. Friday at RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME, 2383 N. High St., where family will receive friends 1 hour prior to service. Dr. Alan Wendt officiating. Burial Union Cemetery. Friends may if they wish contribute to a charity of choice.

The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
Tuesday November 28, 1944

Sproull Rites Set
Services for William J. Sproull, 52, of 251 E. Lane Av, a World War I veteran, who died of a heart attack Monday afternoon at the Columbus Coated Fabrics Co., where he was assistant employment manager, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the P. E. Rutherford Chapel.

Mr. Sproull, a native of Adams County, was employed for eight years by the State Tax Commission before becoming associated with the Coated Fabrics Co. two years ago. He was a member of Indianola Presbyterian Church and was a Mason.