Donald Francis Clayton, 91, of West Lafayette, Ind. passed away Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016 at his residence at Westminster Village.
He was born Oct. 6, 1925 in Greene County, Ind. to Francis Clayton and Faye (Beasley) Clayton. Donald married Pat (Cunningham) Clayton on Feb. 7, 1949 in Indianapolis, Ind.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Donald served in WWII with the Army Air Force 15th Air Force out of Italy as a gunner on a B-24. He received multiple decorations and was a Purple Heart recipient. Donald received a B.S. in agriculture from Purdue University in 1949 and a M.S. in extension education in 1971. He worked as a county extension agent from 1949 to 1974 in Harrison, Pike, Blackford, Whitley, and LaPorte counties. Donald served as Area 10 extension administrator from 1974 until his retirement in 1984. He was the president of Indiana County Extension Workers Association in 1974, a longtime member and president of the Kiwanis Club, coordinator of LaPorte County Community Development Study Committee from 1963 to 1974, a member of LaPorte County Plan Commission from 1963 to 1974, served as rural chairman of LaPorte Community Hospital Fund Drive, was governmental chairman of LaPorte United Fund Drive, a long-time LaPorte County Fair director, and was a member of the LaPorte County Tree Commission.
Survivors include his loving wife of W. Lafayette; sons, Dr. Donald (Mindy) Clayton of Lafayette, Dr. Michael (Terri) Clayton of Danville, Ill., and Gerald (Janet Lemen) Clayton of Bloomington, Ind.; sisters, Lillian Blanton of Bloomfield, Ind., and Loretta Mobley of Bloomington, Ind.; sister in-law, Betty Clayton of Indianapolis, Ind.; grandchildren, Tom Clayton, Missy (Andrew) Buche, Lauren Clayton, Joanna Clayton, Sheila Clayton and Charlotte (Joel) Lelliott; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Darwin Clayton; and grandson, Andrew Clayton.
Visitation was on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 at the Anderson-Poindexter Funeral Home, 89 C St NW Linton, Ind. 47441. Burial was in the Clayton Family Cemetery in Linton, Ind. with military honors.
Local arrangements were entrusted to James W. Meng, Jr. and the Anderson-Poindexter Memory Chapel in Linton.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.andersonpoindexter.com.