Archie Donald Clifton

Don Clifton passed away on April 16, 2026, at the age of 94. He was born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Calhoun and Ethel Clifton, growing up mainly in Deland and Tampa. He professed to being a Florida native, even though born in Georgia.

He served in the Air Force for 6 years as an Air Traffic Controller during the Korean War and was stationed at Itazuki AFB in Fukuoka, Japan and at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi

Upon discharge he moved to Daytona Beach where he worked for Southern Bell Company until 1957, when he entered the University of Florida, thanks to his wife Ruth, and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Building Construction degree while Ruth got her PHT degree: “Pushing Hubby Through”. (GO GATORS)

During his 45-year career in building construction, Mr. Clifton worked in Westchester County, NY, as a project manager and estimator. In 1964, the family moved to Titusville, FL where he served at Cape Canaveral as a project engineer and estimator for the construction of Launch Complex 39A with Blount-Sundt, and later as project engineer, system engineer and manager for Catalytic-Dow on various Apollo 8 to 11 projects. He was a member of the team that developed the “Slide Wire Egress System” for the Apollo Program, for which he was presented with the coveted Silver Snoopy Award. Later he became project manager for the first construction phase of Polk Community College in Winter Haven. The next move was to Goose Creek, SC, where he was a civil engineer in a fossil fuel power plant. Most of his career was spent in Macon, GA (25 years) as project manager/estimator & vice president of Williams & Associates, working on many industrial and institutional projects, building manufacturing projects for YKK Zipper Co and YKK Aluminum Products.

After his initial retirement in 1995, he worked in Oviedo, FL with Wilson & Company, Inc. as an estimator until he retired again in 2005.

He and Ruth were married for 38 years and raised three great daughters, Debbie Clifton, Julie Burke, and Donna Craig, who are all successful in their chosen fields of endeavor. Ruth was an avid needlepoint stitcher and spent many years perfecting her skill.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Sarles Clifton, infant son Donald Sarles Clifton, older brother C. E. (Sonny) Clifton, Jr. of Bend, OR younger brother Jesse Clifton of Samson AL, mother Ethel Donaldson Clifton, and father Calhoun Edward Clifton, Sr.

In retirement, Mr. Clifton enjoyed traveling with his second wife Judy: golfing, fishing, watching Gator Sports, puttering in the garden, reading, and doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with his family. He and Judy were able to travel to Oregon to visit his brother Sonny, stopping on the way to see San Antonio, Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite, and then taking a cruise to Alaska.

He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Judy Bennett Clifton; daughters Debbie Clifton

of Altamonte Springs; Julie Burke (Ray) of Lexington, KY; and Dr. Donna Craig (Dale) of Melbourne; grand-daughters Dr. Haley Poisson (Jonathan) of Woodland, WA; and Maryl Harris (Léo Guilhoto) of Philadelphia, PA.

Don, “Pop”, will be remembered fondly for his keen sense of humor and incredible organizational skill. His knack for numbers made him an excellent financial advisor for at least one daughter. Family was his number one focus and love.

Mr. Clifton will be cremated, with arrangements handled by Beach Funeral Home of Indialantic.

A simple funeral service will be held at graveside at a future date. A portion of the ashes will be combined with Judith A. Clifton’s ashes upon her passing and cremation. Burial of the remaining ashes will be beside his children’s mother Ruth, in a private family plot in the Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Aging Matters, Second Harvest Daily Bread and/or CITA.