Charles Kent Claypool, age 66 of Belton, Texas passed away during the early morning hours of Monday, February 28, 2022, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple,Texas.
Kent was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 20, 1955, to parents Charles Glen and Jeanne Bass Claypool. He was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 10 years, then moved to North Stamford, Connecticut. Kent found his true home in 1970 when he and his family moved to Houston.
Kent served in the U.S. Marines after graduating from Westchester High School in west Houston in 1974. After completing his military service, Kent studied at The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. After graduation, he returned to Houston, where he worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Texas Medical Center and met his true love and wife of 32 years, Monica Joerger. Kent and Monica were married on July 13, 1990, at Saint Ann Catholic Church in Houston. He continued to work for MD Anderson for almost 15 years, but eventually retired from Texas A&M Health Science Center in Temple in 2011.
Throughout his life Kent had an intense studious love of the sciences, electronics, computer applications, and physical fitness. For decades his day began at 5:00 AM in the gym. Kent had a true passion for medical research, particularly cancer research, and was highly committed to finding a cure for cancer. As an avid reader he found solace in reading, discussing politics, being a father and loving husband, and listening to music. In his earlier years he found joy in riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles.
He is preceded in death by his beloved son Casey Glen Claypool and parents Jeanne and Charles Glen Claypool.
Kent will be dearly missed by many friends, colleagues, neighbors and family members. He is survived by his wife Monica Claypool of Belton, daughter Lauren Claypool of Austin, brother James Michael Claypool and wife Jamie of Spicewood, sister Candi Saleh of Raleigh, North Carolina, nephews Justin ‘Bo’ Claypool and Travis Maloy, and nieces Sarah Claypool and Melinda Maloy.
The family requests donations be made to The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box, 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486 - or online at: gifts.mdanderson.org.
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