James O Clanton

James Olen “Jim” Clanton, 97, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 9, 2023. He was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi on April 23, 1926 and was raised in Mississippi and Alabama until he entered World War II as an army infantryman on March 4, 1943. He fought in France and Germany until he was wounded in action and sent back to the United States in 1944 where he completed his deployment in Florida. Post-war, he returned home to help work the family farm, after which he attended the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science. He moved to California (where he would reside for the next 60 years) and began his career in aerospace at North American Aviation (which became Rockwell International, and ultimately Boeing) where he was honored to work on the Apollo Program (specifically working on the Saturn V Rocket), the F100 fighter plane, the B-1 Bomber, and many other history-making projects. His career in aerospace spanned 33 years until his retirement in 1987. While at North American, he met his beautiful wife Barbara, who passed away in 1999 after 38 years of marriage. After retirement, he and Barbara enjoyed traveling throughout the United States on road trips and river cruises. They especially enjoyed the French Quarter of New Orleans and stopped there as often as possible in their travels.

Jim’s faith and family were high priorities in his life. In a time when it wasn’t necessarily the popular trend, he was a very hands-on father to his daughters. Whatever activities, sports, or shows they were a part of, he was there to cheer them on. He never missed an event that was important to his girls. He was a faithful member of Rolling Hills Covenant Church and then Peninsula Community Church for a combined total of almost 50 years where he served in leadership positions and could often be found volunteering his time with the youth, men’s ministries, and trustee and deacon ministries. He spent the final 7 years of his life in Sorrento, Florida, where he lived with his daughter Erin and son-in-law David. He enjoyed the beautiful Florida sunshine and could often be found relaxing on the back porch and bird watching.

Jim is predeceased by his wife Barbara (Mackay) Clanton, his parents, E.Y. and Myrtle (Alverson) Clanton, his sisters Sarah Clanton and Anne Clanton, and his brothers Wade (Betty) Clanton and E.Y. “Curly” Jr (Joanne) Clanton. Jim is survived by his daughters Lisa (Gregory) Semko MacDonald and Erin (David) Theriault; and three grandchildren, Jake (Hazel) Theriault, Caitlin Semko, and Sam (Lauren) Theriault, and sister Florene Staggs.

Jim was loved by many, and will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was above all a kind man; a good, good father; and a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Jim will be interred alongside his wife at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at River Oaks Church, PCA 385 Washington Ave, Lake Mary, FL 32746.