David J. Clinton

Obituary For David J. Clinton
SergeantFirst Class David J. Clinton (Ret.), US Army, passed away after a prolonged battle with rheumatoid arthritis on July 13, 2024, in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Born David Jewett on January 31, 1944, in Yakima, Washington to Rachel Johnson. He was adopted by James and Gertrude Clinton in 1955. David spent the majority of his adolescence in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he graduated from high school.
David enlisted in the US Navy in 1963, serving as a Radioman aboard the USS Ranger and USS Brooke during the Vietnam War. After earning an Associate's Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from Long Beach City College and honorably discharged from the US Navy, he worked as a senior engineer at McDonnell Douglas. David then relocated with his young family to New Mexico in 1973 where he served as a Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy.
David later joined the New Mexico Army National Guard in Ft Sumner, where he became one of the first drone pilots for the US Army's RCMAT and RCAT programs. He also maintained and operated NIM-72 Chaparral Missile systems in Las Cruces. David retired in 1994 as a Sergeant First Class after 26 years of exceptional military service, earning numerous awards including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, US Navy Good Conduct Medal, a US Navy Unit Commendation, and several individual commendation letters.
David is remembered as a loving brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He was an amateur radio operator and published poet who enjoyed camping and exploring national parks.
He was preceded in death by his mother Rachel Johnson; adoptive parents, James Clinton and Gertrude Jones; and his second wife, Marilyn Clinton. David is survived by his brothers- Marvin (Ruth) Stark and Ron Beers; sisters- Jeannie Jewett Anderson, Rita Jewett and Carol McDonald; former wife, Maria (Bill) Barth; children- David (Lixia) Clinton, Susan (Norbert) Valles, and Daniel (Antoinette) Clinton; and grandchildren- Chris, Alec, Jon, Katherine, Jeauvan, Nevae, Julian, Zoey, and Jonah.
A monument in David's honor will be placed at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in New Mexico. At his request, a private memorial will be held for his children. David will be dearly missed, and his memory cherished.