CLIFFORD, Robert

The Arizona Repubic 3/14/2010 Clifford, Robert, 90, was born in Vermillion, South Dakota, October 6, 1919, to John and Mary Clifford. He attended grade & high school in Vermillion, skipping a grade as he went. After graduation, he worked in Los Angeles, but was called into the service and spent time at Lubbock, Texas, as well as the Aleutian Islands. During his 4 years in the Army Air Corps he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. While on furlough, he met and married Hazel Anderson, a teacher at Elk Point, South Dakota. In 1945, Bob was released from the service and they returned to Vermillion, where James (Jim), their only child, was born. Phoenix was their next move and was home for almost 30 years. Bob worked his way up the ladder for Safeway Stores, eventually becoming a Senior Buyer. Bob was an accomplished outdoorsman and hunter, who once bagged an antelope at a range of over 500 yards. He was a proud to be a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. After retirement in 1982, they moved to Lake Montezuma, AZ, where Jim and his family lived. Bob and Hazel were blessed to have one son, Jim, one granddaughter Jamie Grabiec, and a special little great granddaughter, Elizabeth Grabiec. Preceding deaths including his parents, two brothers, and an infant daughter.