Donald E. Cluxton Jr.

Colonel Donald E. Cluxton, Jr., U.S. Army Infantry Retired, passed peacefully on September 16, 2025, with his daughter by his side and family members around the country praying God speed. Colonel Cluxton graduated from the University of Wyoming with honors and as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. He was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in the Regular Army in 1955.

Colonel Cluxton met his future wife Ruth Campbell in high school. They were married after both graduated from college and were together for 62 years.

After Basic Officer Training, Paratrooper (Airborne) Training and Ranger School, he served as a platoon leader during the Cold War in Germany.

Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division. His unit, the 503d Airborne Battle Group, was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a company commander, executing training parachute jumps on Okinawa, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, with a total of 57 personal jumps during his military career. His next assignment was the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, after which he volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War. In the early phase of the war, he served as senior advisor for the 3d Battalion 10th Regiment, Army of Vietnam, operating in the Mekong Delta, in the vicinity of My Tho and Ben Tre. During

that combat tour, he was awarded three Bronze Star medals, including one for valor, and received an accelerated promotion from the rank of captain to major.

Next, Colonel Cluxton was selected to attend the Command Staff Course at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. After that, he was selected to serve on the faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In preparation, he attended Duke University where he earned a Master's Degree in History.

After West Point, Colonel Cluxton returned to Vietnam, serving in the 4th Infantry Division commanding an infantry battalion in the Central Highlands. He was awarded two more Bronze Star medals, including one for valor, and the Legion of Merit medal for command performance.

He next served on the Army General Staff in the Pentagon and then was selected to attend the National War College, where he received his second accelerated promotion from the rank of lieutenant colonel to full colonel. He then volunteered for service in US Army Europe, where he served in Aschaffenburg, Germany as brigade and community commander. He was responsible for three battalions in his brigade as well as three additional battalions for logistics and discipline, a personnel responsibility for 4,000 Soldiers and 3,000 family members. Colonel Cluxton's final Army assignment was as Director, Tactics Department, at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

After retirement from the Army, Don served in county governments as county administrator and other county executive positions in the states of Colorado, New Jersey and California.

Don was an avid traveler, visiting China, Egypt and Turkey, along with cruises on the Danube River, the Seine River to Normandy, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. He took many of those trips with family members, including trips across the US and overseas with his granddaughters. He treasured family time including hosting annual Santa Breakfasts for the entire Cluxton crew at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. He was a terrific skier, beginning in his youth and skiing well into his 70s. He taught all his children and grandchildren to ski, most beginning at the age of 3 years.

While he called many places home, Don's heart was most at peace in his beloved mountain home in Evergreen, Colorado. During his 25 years there, he witnessed frequent visits from the elk, who enjoyed munching their way through his yard on their journey through Bergen Park. Don often could be found on the hiking trails in Elk Meadow, an avocation he found most satisfying. He also enjoyed Saturday evenings out at local Evergreen restaurants. And whether it was dinner out, a family wedding, or other events, Don always arrived sharply dressed and dapper, be it a wool vest and driving cap or a freshly pressed suit.

Don was the neighbor you could call on for help day or night. He was a Soldier who loved his country and cherished military service in addition to being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, colleague and friend.

Don's wife Ruth predeceased him in 2018. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, six granddaughters and four great grandchildren. Services will be at Fairmont Cemetery in Denver. Don lived life to the fullest and cared for everyone around him. Truly a life well lived.