Russell Clifton

Russell T. Clifton, 88, of Oxford, IN. died at University Place in West Lafayette Monday June 24, 2013. He was born June 25, 1924 in Boswell, IN. to the late Talmadge and Eathel Mae Hudson Clifton, and graduated early from Boswell High School in 1941. He turned down two athletic scholarships, opting to stay at home and help his parents and brothers while waiting to be drafted. In early 1943, he was inducted into the US Army and served in the Second Army in the European Theatre as a combat engineer, serving in France, Belgium, Germany and England. He married Margaret Evelyn Martindale October 1, 1943, his high school classmate, and she survives. After his discharge from the military, he settled on the farm where they still reside. Russell was a prominent semi-pro baseball player in the area, and played with the Lafayette Red Sox in the late 40's. He was pursued by the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates, both of whom offered contracts. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and were avid golfers, and were members of the Lafayette Country Club for many years. For 20 years, he and the late Dr. Grayson Davis played in the Country Shrine Invitational Golf Tournament at Medinah Country Club, benefitting the Illinois Masonic Hospital for Crippled Children, and won the tournament twice. Russell served on the Lafayette Home Hospital Board and the North Central Health Services Board as a director and a corporate officer for 14 years.
Surviving beside his wife is a daughter, Cathy Phelps (husband Don) of Oxford, IN.; and a son, Ron Clifton (wife Cathy A.) of Scottsdale, AZ.; 3 grandchildren, Renee Petrie (husband Jon), Derek Stephen (wife Alisha) all of Lafayette, IN.; and Chase McKinley Clifton of Scottsdale, AZ. and 4 great-grandchildren, Ben Petrie, Caroline Petrie, Blakely Stephen and Cohen Stephen along with two nephews and seven nieces. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Daulton and Thelma Clifton; a brother, Raymond Clifton; and by a son-in-law, Reggy Stephen.
Friends may call at the Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home, Oxford from 5 until 8 PM Friday. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home 11:00 AM Saturday, John Morris officiating, with interment at Boswell Cemetery. If friends desire, memorials may be made to the Boswell Church of Christ or the Charity of the donor's choice. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com.