James Murle McCloria

Ottawa ? Services for James Murle McCloria, 82, Valley Falls, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa. Military honors will be by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery in Ottawa.

Mr. McCloria died Monday, May 17, 2004, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

He was born Nov. 3, 1921, in Ottawa, the son of Murle McCloria and Lela Wilson McCloria-Clayton. He graduated from Ottawa High School. He lived in Ottawa from 1921 to 1942 and in Wadsworth and Leavenworth from 1945 to 1986, when he moved to Valley Falls.

Mr. McCloria served in the U.S. Army from Sept. 26, 1942, to Nov. 23, 1945. He attained the rank of private and received the American Pacific Theater Medal, American Theater Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Bronze Star and Gold Oak Leaf. He was a prisoner of war and was one of the American soldiers forced on the Philippine Bataan Death March.

He was a member of Bethany Bible Baptist Chapel Church in Ottawa and of American Legion Post 273 in Wichita.

Survivors include an uncle, Fredrick Wilson, Cleveland; an aunt, Elizabeth Wilson Carliss, Wichita; and five cousins.

Friends may call from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.

The family suggests memorials to North Ash Church of Nazarene of Wichita, sent in care of the mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa 66067.

Online condolences may be sent at www.dengelmortuary. com.