Richard Lee Clifton

Richard Lee Clifton, 92, of Coaldale, died Jan. 9, 2021 in Florence.

He was born May 1, 1928, in Santa Monica, California to Willie Le Clifton and Tracy Mick Clifton. 

He grew up in Colorado and graduated from La Junta High School. 

He served 3 years in the Air Force, a year of which was spent in Korea as a radar technician. 

In 1954, he married Sharon Rae Howery in Potwin, Kansas. 

The couple returned to Colorado in 1955 and the family lived in Colorado Springs until 1974. 

In Colorado Springs he was a supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service. 

When he moved to Coaldale he transferred to the Salida Post Office and worked there until his retirement in 1983. 

After retirement, he was an Emergency Medical Technician for Ramrod for 12 years. 

He loved to paint and draw mountain scenery, old farm machinery, barns and local wildlife. 

Mr. Clifton was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4051 in Colorado Springs.

He moved into the Bruce McCandless Veterans Affairs Nursing Center in October 2018, and lived there until his death. 

Survivors include his wife; daughters Debra Bohlken, Susan Clifton and Tracy Belgarde; son Mark (Linda) Clifton; brother Daryl (Evelyn) Clifton; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life at Cotopaxi Church will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 16, 2021.

Interment will follow at Coaldale Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be offered at www.lewisandglenn.com.

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