Lawrence Monroe "Larry" Clifford

1919 - 2008

Larry Clifford passed to his rest at his Paradise home on March 14, 2008. He was born in El Paso, Texas on March 31, 1919 to Plato Colorado and Emma Rosanna Clifford. While a student at Union College, Nebraska, he met the love of his life, Donna Jean Johnson. They were married on June 7, 1942.

Larry served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II in Sheppard Field, Texas and Langley Field, Virginia. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he spent several years farming in California, North Dakota, and Washington. He then returned to college to earn his teaching credentials at Walla Walla College. After earning his degree, he moved his family to Angwin, California to begin his teaching career at Howell Mountain Elementary School where he later became the principal-superintendent. His career there lasted until his retirement in 1983.

To Larry, "retirement" only meant, "On to the next project". Since he had a passion for both travel and for helping people, he and Donna spent years as volunteer missionaries for Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Bolivia, Haiti, and Ethiopia.

Settling back down in the Angwin home to continue his "retirement", he served as a member of the Howell Mountain School Board, the same school where he had spent so many years as teacher and principal. He was happiest when he had several projects going at once, usually involving concrete, lumber, dirt and rocks for flowerbeds, and old cars for restoration. Because his favorite project was helping people, he and Donna sponsored families from Cuba and Ethiopia to come to America.
In the summer of 2002, after living 40 years in Angwin, Larry and Donna moved to Paradise, California where they have enjoyed being closer to their son, Ken. Also, it was a fresh opportunity for Larry to make new friends, and he did it with his usual gusto! Whether at church, in the neighborhood, by email, or by ham radio, he has friends around the world.

He is survived by Donna, his wife of 65 years; his children, Ken and Patti of Chico, Sid and Jennifer of Grass Valley, Monte of Sacramento, and Carol and Milton McHenry of Laurel, Maryland; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Larry was a positive influence in the lives of hundreds of people both young and old during his long life. He loved God, his family, his church, and his country. He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.