CLAYTON, Paul Taylor

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona February 28, 2003 Paul Taylor Clayton, 83, passed away on February 25th, 2003 in Peoria, Arizona. Born in Orleans, Indiana on May 6, 1919, the son of James Taylor Clayton and Laura Isabelle Brown Clayton. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary Opal Lasley Clayton. He is survived by 5 children, Ruth Ellen Robertson of Yorktown, Virginia; Barbara Lois Bowman of Glendale, Arizona; Eleanor Mae Fodor of Avondale, Arizona; John Byron Clayton of Waddell, Arizona; and Rebecca Marie Davis of Charlotte, North Carolina and one sister, Mrs. Josephine Stahlhut of Indianapolis, Indiana. Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He graduated from Orleans High School in 1938. After graduation he worked for the Indiana University Medical Center for three years. In January 1941 he went into active service with the 38th Infantry Division of the Indiana National Guard. Until April, 1942, he was with the 38th. Following this period, he spent ten months as an instructor on infantry weapons and map reading in the Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning, GA. It was there that he married Mary Lasley of Bainbridge, Indiana. After this tour he was sent to Hawaii where he learned Jungle warfare methods. After this he saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines. He was among the first wave of American fighting men to return to Bataan. It was here during 16 days of furious fighting that he received his battlefield commission to first lieutenant. Following an honorable discharge in 1946, he accepted a position as an electrician with the New York Central Railroad at Indianapolis, where he worked until he was recalled to service in October 1950 for the Korean War. He landed at Inchon, Korea, with the 7th Calvary Regiment of the 1st Calvary Division. He saw almost continuous front line service for ten months and then came home in September, 1951. It was after this that he moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona where he worked as an electrician for Merritt Electric Company. During the building of the Glen Canyon Dam he supervised the electrical work in Page, AZ for various buildings, and the new Page School buildings. Near the end of his career he helped build the Palo Verde Power Plant. Paul's hobby was guns and enjoyed teaching young or old gun safety and proper handling techniques. During the time when his children were in school he was involved in Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs. He was also a Royal Ambassador leader with Valley Heights Baptist Church, of which he was a Charter Member. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in the Phoenix area as a Captain in 1959 and retired as an electrician in good standing with Electrical Union Local #640. Services will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 1, 2003 at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. Interment will follow at Resthaven Park Cemetery. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.