Obituary

Lewis T. Clayton, Jr., formerly of Glenmoore On the morning of April 23, 2016, Lewis passed away peacefully of natural causes in Honeybrook, PA. He was 91 years old and lived a life full of care for family, travel and adventure. “Lew” was born to Bessie Mae Clayton and Lewis T. Clayton, Sr. in 1925. He was their youngest child and is predeceased by his oldest sister, Louise, and survived by the family’s middle sister, LuVerne Zobel, age 95. Lew was born in West Chester, PA and raised on a dairy farm in Glenmoore, PA. When he wasn’t helping his father corral the bull in the barn, he attended Font School (Font, PA), a one room schoolhouse where Mrs. Ash taught grades K – 8. Lew, Louise and LuVerne actually DID walk through snow drifts and up and down hills more than 3 miles to elementary school on winter days! He went on to attend and graduate from West Chester High School in 1942 and then enlisted in the Navy to serve in World War II when he was 17 years old. First Class Petty Officer Lewis Clayton, did two cruises on the USS Card and one cruise on the USS Core. He was a radar man and tail gunner on the TBF Avenger which saw heavy action in the European theatre as part of US Navy Squadron VC-12. He was honorably discharged near the end of the War in 1945. Lewis went on to attend Penn State University under the GI Bill where he earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1950. That summer, he and a couple of close buddies took the driving trip of a lifetime – a camping adventure up and back on the 1,700 mile ALCAN Highway which was first opened to the public in 1948. In 1951 Lew began his 45-year career as a chemist at the Foote Mineral Company in Exton. Foote manufactured lithium metal and lithium chemicals for the metal industry. The hallmarks of his adult life were personally caring for his mother into her 90’s and living out his true passion, traveling. From an early age, Lew loved to experience life through traveling the world. His first experience outside West Chester came with his service in the Navy. His favorite lifelong destinations, to which he would return many times, included Alaska, the western Rockies, the European Alps, and Africa. He was an avid skier and hiker and took it upon himself to share these passions with his beloved nephew and nieces. Lew loved life and enjoying time with family and dear friends. He will be missed. In addition to his sister, “Uncle Lewie” will be missed by nephew Greg Zobel (Faith), nieces Dawn Papineau and Kimberly Sturonas (Joe), as well as grand nephews and nieces Alexandra Zobel, Gregory Zobel, Nicole Williams, Chad Papineau, Millie Anderson, Kalla Sturonas, Megan Sturonas, Katie Novak (Ben), Mike Margileth, Faith Novak, Olivia Novak, and Ben Novak. All friends and family are welcome on Saturday, May 14 at Fairview Presbyterian Church, 800 Fairview Road, Glenmoore, PA. Visitation will be in the church parlor at 10 AM followed by his funeral service in the church at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fairview Presbyterian Church. Arr. Ralston & Bredickas Funeral Home, Downingtown, PA. Online at www.donohuefuneralhome.com
Published in The Daily Local on May 1, 2016