George Stuart Claghorn, formerly of West Chester

George Stuart Claghorn, 98, of Elm Terrace Gardens, Lansdale, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy of West Chester University, died February 5, 2018 after a brief illness at Lansdale, PA.

Dr. Claghorn joined the faculty of West Chester in 1963, and continued teaching there for forty-one years. He was the founding chair of the Philosophy Department, led in its development, and assisted it to secure approval of the M.A. program in philosophy. This was, and still is, the only such program among all of the fourteen former Pennsylvania state colleges. He was active in the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium, and President of the Fullerton Club.

Prior to West Chester, he was Professor of Philosophy at Eastern University, St. Davids, for sixteen years, and Dean of the Faculty. He also taught at Penn State, Temple, and Penn. He was the author of four books, including the “Letters and Personal Writings” of Jonathan Edwards, which he edited for Yale University Press.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Claghorn grew up in Cape May, New Jersey. He received his bachelor’s degree from Chattanooga, theology degree from Palmer Seminary, and Ph. D. from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Dr. Claghorn was a minister, and held two pastorates, one in Trenton, New Jersey, the other in Ridley Park. At Trenton, he was Editor of Religious News for the daily Trentonian. Across the years, he found time to be interim pastor of 36 churches in the tri-state area.

Since he retired in 2004, Dr. Claghorn resided at Elm Terrace Gardens, Lansdale. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley (Haines) Claghorn, daughter Elizabeth Austin, son Stuart, daughter-in-law Patricia (Flynn) Claghorn, and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Lansdale, on Saturday, February 10, at 10a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the WCU Foundation, for the George S. Claghorn Philosophy Fund, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383.

Arrangements by Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale. www.huffandlakjer.com