~ IN MEMORY ~
USMC veteran, DL Capt. David W. Clifford
October 12, 1939 ~ August 8, 2013
Notification with the passing of retired DL pilot and Delta Golden Wings member Captain David Warren Clifford, age 73. Captain Clifford hired on with Delta Air Lines 10-03-1966 and was based Chicago for most of his career, then CVG/030 prior to retirement.
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral
home website at http://www.arnoldfh.com/ The obituary may
also be viewed at
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 24 at the Community United
Methodist Church in Columbia MO with visitation prior to the service at 11:00
a.m. Survived by his wife Jean personal condolences may be sent to the family at
2613 Belfair Ct., Columbia MO 65203-8446 .... (573) 474-1967
Life Story:
DAVID WARREN CLIFFORD, 73 COLUMBIA, Mo. - David Warren Clifford, 73, of
Columbia, Mo., passed away August 8, 2013 at the Mexico Missouri Veterans Home.
He was born October 12, 1939 in Rockland, Maine to the late Richard and Anna
(Smith) Clifford Greene. Dave was blessed with a great sense of adventure and
encouraged that in others. Competition, whether as part of a sports team or as
an individual, was always part of his life. At the age of 9, the family moved
from Dave's beloved Maine to Maywood, Ill. He attended Proviso High School and
competed in football, basketball and baseball. A sports scholarship enabled Dave
to attend DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where he competed all four
years in football and baseball. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity. He worked waiting tables at the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house
where he met his wife, Jean McCalister. Following their graduations, they were
married December 28, 1961, and enjoyed 51 years together.
March 1962 David entered the United States Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant
based at NAS Pensacola for flight training and earning his wings as a Naval
Aviator at Kingsville, Tex. At MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., he flew A-4's with
Marine Attack Squadron 332. He then finished his active USMC service at NAS
Pensacola as an instructor. At the completion of active duty, Dave remained in
the Marine Corps reserves flying out of NAS Glenview in Illinois. Dave worked
for Delta Air Lines for 30 years flying the DC-9 and Boeing 727 out of O'Hare
Field in Chicago. Dave was a line check pilot on the DC-9. He served with the
Air Line Pilots Association as Captain Representative and Council #43 Chairman
for the Delta pilots based at O'Hare from 1988 to 1992.
While living in Palatine, Ill., Dave was an active father to his two
children, Dan and Elizabeth (Betsy). He served the Palatine Presbyterian Church
as Sunday school teacher, Elder, and leader for 10 years in the Jr. High or Sr.
High youth groups. He ran many miles with the Palatine High School cross country
team as a volunteer. This led to his competition in local road races even
completing two Boston Marathons and two Chicago Marathons. In the winter Dave
cross country skied, again competing in area races including the 55K American
Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wis., for many years. Dave was active in the founding of
the Buehler YMCA in Palatine, Ill., serving on the board of directors from 1970
to 1977. In 1971 Dave was selected as the Jaycee "man of the year" by receiving
their Distinguished Service Award. After 19 years in Palatine, Dave and Jean
moved as "empty nester" to Lake Summerset, Ill. Here Dave could continue to
pursue his sports and competitive interests always encouraging others as he
went. He sailed, biked, kayaked, golfed, ice skated while continuing to run and
cross country ski. He loved to sail and would captain trips to the British
Virgin Islands with family and friends. After retirement, in October 1996, Jean
and Dave traveled for two years in their fifth-wheel recreation vehicle visiting
the lower 48 United States and nine Canadian providences.
In November 2004 Dave became an incomplete paraplegic due to severe spinal
stenosis. This did not stop his determination. He excelled at rehab even being
honored by one of his physical therapists receiving that year's outstanding
patient award. Dave's love of sports and competition continued as he biked many
miles and raced his Invacare 27-speed handcycle. He completed 3 marathons racing
with Achilles International in the Palm Beach, the Miami, and the Ft. Lauderdale
marathons. Dave and Jean moved to Columbia, Mo., in 2006 where he was a member
of the Community United Methodist Church and participated in the choir for
several years. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sports events and the
Tiger Quarterback Club. When Alzheimer's Disease took over, Dave was fortunate
to attend The Adult Day Connection for a year before moving to the Mexico
Missouri Veterans Home where he again received loving care.
Dave is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Dan (Lisa) of Hoffman Estates,
Ill.; and daughter, Betsy (Jon) Oursler of Columbia, Mo.; He was also the proud
grandfather of six, Ricky, Nikki, and Ben Clifford of Hoffman Estates, and
Paige, Keri, and Jeffrey Oursler of Columbia; two brothers, Bill ( Nancy ) of
Lake Bluff, Ill., and Paul ( Alice ) of Romeoville, Ill.; and sister-in-law, Jo
Ann McCalister of Goffstown, N.H. He was preceded in death by his parents; his
sister, Sylvia Kunreuther; and an infant son, Douglas William.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 24 at the Community United
Methodist Church, 3301 Broadway, Columbia, Mo. Visitation is at 10:00 a.m. with
the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to
the Adult Day Connection, 137 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO., 65211, or the Mexico
Missouri Veterans Home, 1 Veterans Drive , Mexico, MO., 65265. Online
condolences may be left at http://www.arnoldfh.com/
.Published in Rockford Register Star from August 13 to August 14,
2013
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