Raymon
Raymon Lenne Clayton
Raymon Lenne Clayton, 89, died on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, VA. He had been a resident in the Drinkard Health Center since February, 2007. He was born to the late V. C. and Mae Jackson Clayton on December 10, 1922 in Girard, AL. Ray was preceded in death by his first wife, Bernice Harper Clayton and his second wife, Nellie Wooldridge Harper Clayton. He was also preceded in death by brothers; Homer, Luther and Roscoe Clayton and a sister-in\""law Sara Clayton.
Ray is survived by a daughter, Pamela Clayton Kelly and husband, Walter, of Keene, VA; a step-daughter, Jacqueline Harper Meador and husband, Max of Forest, VA; a sister, Peggy Clayton of Broxton, GA; and a niece, Joyce Morse and husband, David of Broxton, GA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Seth Johnston, Erin Kelly, Randy Meador and wife, Elaine, Kimberley Meador Jennings and husband, Arthur; and two great-grandchildren, Rylee Jennings and Brooke Meador.
After graduating from Jordon Vocational High School in Columbus, GA, where he played football and baseball, Ray served his country during World War II by enlisting in the U. S. Army Air Force in May of 1941. He was certified as both a pilot and a bombardier. He flew thirty-three missions over Africa, Malta, and Italy. He received the following medals: American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Ray was discharged in March of 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant. During the Korean War, he was a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force Primary Pilot Training Program in Kinston, NC and later in Moultrie, GA.
Ray then entered Georgia Tech on the GI Bill, and in 1950 he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Over the years, he received a number of diplomas and certificates in various fields from correspondence schools.
In addition to being a certified flight instructor, Ray worked for almost thirty years as an engineer and a supervisor for companies which include Lockheed, Swift & Company, Hunt Wesson, Rubatex, and Citadel. In 1979, he took a position as a Rehabilitation Engineer with the State of North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Over a ten year period Ray completed more than 1100 projects for clients and public service institutions. He wrote numerous articles and spoke at conferences about his work with the disabled. Ray received the \"North Carolina Mayor\"™s Committee Open Door Award\" for work with people with disabilities and in 1988, he received both the \"Secretary\"™s Award for Excellence\" from the North Carolina Department of Human Resources and the \"Governor\"™s Award for Excellence\" at a luncheon at the Governor\"™s Mansion. Ray retired in 1989 but continued to help the disabled with home projects, and in 1995 he was recognized as one of ten recipients for \"Those Who Care\" in a banquet given by the Greensboro television station WFMY. After retirement in 1989, Ray continued to do projects, free of charge, for veterans and their spouses, the disabled, and elderly.
Ray belonged to the several different Wesleyan Churches and taught Sunday School. He has read the Bible forty-five times in eighteen translations. He belonged to Toastmaster Clubs, in several different cities and was president three times. Ray enjoyed singing church hymns, playing golf, and in his younger years umpiring Little League baseball and refereeing high school and small college football. Ray requested the epitaph on his marker read, \"He died at age 89, thinking he was young.\"
A graveside service with military honors will be conducted at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Sandy Springs, GA at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9, 2012. Memorial contributions may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300,Jacksonville, FL 32256.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of 6th floor, Drinkard, Westminster Canterbury for their loving support and care for Ray for the last five years and Centra Hospice for their more recent care and support.
Ray is survived by a daughter, Pamela Clayton Kelly and husband, Walter, of Keene, VA; a step-daughter, Jacqueline Harper Meador and husband, Max of Forest, VA; a sister, Peggy Clayton of Broxton, GA; and a niece, Joyce Morse and husband, David of Broxton, GA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Seth Johnston, Erin Kelly, Randy Meador and wife, Elaine, Kimberley Meador Jennings and husband, Arthur; and two great-grandchildren, Rylee Jennings and Brooke Meador.
After graduating from Jordon Vocational High School in Columbus, GA, where he played football and baseball, Ray served his country during World War II by enlisting in the U. S. Army Air Force in May of 1941. He was certified as both a pilot and a bombardier. He flew thirty-three missions over Africa, Malta, and Italy. He received the following medals: American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Ray was discharged in March of 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant. During the Korean War, he was a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force Primary Pilot Training Program in Kinston, NC and later in Moultrie, GA.
Ray then entered Georgia Tech on the GI Bill, and in 1950 he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Over the years, he received a number of diplomas and certificates in various fields from correspondence schools.
In addition to being a certified flight instructor, Ray worked for almost thirty years as an engineer and a supervisor for companies which include Lockheed, Swift & Company, Hunt Wesson, Rubatex, and Citadel. In 1979, he took a position as a Rehabilitation Engineer with the State of North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Over a ten year period Ray completed more than 1100 projects for clients and public service institutions. He wrote numerous articles and spoke at conferences about his work with the disabled. Ray received the \"North Carolina Mayor\"™s Committee Open Door Award\" for work with people with disabilities and in 1988, he received both the \"Secretary\"™s Award for Excellence\" from the North Carolina Department of Human Resources and the \"Governor\"™s Award for Excellence\" at a luncheon at the Governor\"™s Mansion. Ray retired in 1989 but continued to help the disabled with home projects, and in 1995 he was recognized as one of ten recipients for \"Those Who Care\" in a banquet given by the Greensboro television station WFMY. After retirement in 1989, Ray continued to do projects, free of charge, for veterans and their spouses, the disabled, and elderly.
Ray belonged to the several different Wesleyan Churches and taught Sunday School. He has read the Bible forty-five times in eighteen translations. He belonged to Toastmaster Clubs, in several different cities and was president three times. Ray enjoyed singing church hymns, playing golf, and in his younger years umpiring Little League baseball and refereeing high school and small college football. Ray requested the epitaph on his marker read, \"He died at age 89, thinking he was young.\"
A graveside service with military honors will be conducted at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Sandy Springs, GA at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9, 2012. Memorial contributions may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300,Jacksonville, FL 32256.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of 6th floor, Drinkard, Westminster Canterbury for their loving support and care for Ray for the last five years and Centra Hospice for their more recent care and support.
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