Donald F. Clickner

1943 - 2024

Donald F. Clickner

November 5, 2024

Lake Wylie, South Carolina - Donald F. Clickner (Don) passed away peacefully on November 5, 2024 at the age of 80, in Lake Wylie, SC. He was born on November 11, 1943 in Cohoes, NY and was the son of Charles D. Clickner Sr. and Mary (LeClaire) Clickner.

After graduating from Troy High School, Don enlisted in the Army and served in the Army Security Agency (ASA), a predecessor of the National Security Agency (NSA). During the Vietnam War, Don was posted in Okinawa and worked on a classified signal intelligence mission focused on intercepting Communist communications.

Following his military service, he became Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds at Rhinebeck Central School District, while also serving his community as a police officer at night with Village of Rhinebeck police department. He later become Director of Facilities and Operations in the larger district of Wappingers Central School. In 1996 he retired and moved to North Carolina where he was employed by Cabarrus County Schools as the Director of Facilities, Operations and Construction. There he oversaw a massive expansion of the district and the merger of the Kannapolis City Schools Maintenance Department into the county district. He retired in 2006 and built his dream home on Lake Wylie with his wife Peggy.

Don was a member of the Good Shepard Church in Charlotte, NC where he found spiritual solace and community. His personal life was enriched by becoming a master woodworker, boating on Lake Wylie, and spending cherished moments with family and friends at Sunset Beach N.C. and Hilton Head, S.C. He was proud of the accomplishments of his sons and all of his grandchildren and loved to tell everyone about them. He had twelve wonderful years of being bossed around by his beloved Jack Russell Trigger, who sadly predeceased him.

Don is survived by his wife Peggy Eve (Schleyer) Clickner; two sons, David Charles (Michelle) Clickner and Jason Andrew (Stacey) Clickner; and two sisters, Joyce Wenze of Kinderhook, NY and Marilyn Oliver of Lake Norman, NC. He was preceded in death by his sister, Charlotte Sawick, and brother, Charles D. Clickner Jr. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Seth (Nicole) Clickner, Blake Clickner, Caelan Clickner, Riley Clickner and Chase Clickner; and one great grandchild, Elliott Marie Clickner.

A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, November 16, 2024 at M. L. Ford & Sons, 4820 Charlotte Highway, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am. Following the Memorial Service, all are invited to drive to the Committal Service at Evergreen Cemetery, 1462 Armstrong Ford Road, Belmont, NC 28012. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be mailed to the American Legion Post 38, PO Box 372, Clover, SC 29710. The gifts given in memory of Don will be applied to the awards given to the winners of the 2025 Clover High School American Legion Oratorical Contest to be held in January.

Online condolences may be made at www.mlfordsons.com

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Lake Wylie, SC is serving the family of Mr. Clickner.