Samuel Wesley Clifton

Samuel Wesley Clifton, 84, of St. Petersburg, Florida passed away on January 17th, 2021.

Sam was born on May 8, 1936 to Hylbert and Nelle Woodburn Clifton in Clarksburg, WV.  He married the love of his life Shirley Ann Stutler in September of 1955 in the Territory of Alaska.  Sam graduated from Unidis High School in 1954 in West Milford, WV.  Afterwards, he served in the United States Air Force as a jet-fighter mechanic stationed in Anchorage, AK & Tacoma, WA. He was honorably discharged in 1958. According to Sam, serving four years in the USAF were “some of the best years of his life.” In 1961, Sam graduated from Salem College in West Virginia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a minor in English. 

Sam worked for the Treasury Department as an Enrolled Agent and retired in 1991. He filled his retirement years by traveling & working at Clevenger and Sons, playing softball with the Half-Century Club, and reading to the blind at Lighthouse of Pinellas, Inc. He enjoyed playing golf each Saturday with his closest friends. Sam was blessed with a large family that kept him busy as well.  Sam and Shirley were faithful members of Northside Baptist Church from 1967-2004, as well as the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Buick Club of America. He was an avid reader of history & watched Jeopardy every evening answering almost every question with ease. Sam and Shirley spent countless hours on their porch & dock overlooking the lake enjoying the all of the birds, ducks & wildlife.

Sam is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Shirley Clifton, and his four children: Richard Noah Clifton and his wife Cathy Guggino Clifton; Nelle Ann Clifton Marmaro and her husband Michael Marmaro; Karen Sue Clifton Weller and her husband Walter John Weller; and Kathryn Jean Clifton Glass and her husband Mark Glass.

Sam is also survived by 16 grandchildren: Matthew Marmaro and his wife Joanna, Joseph Clifton and his wife Ashley, Douglas Marmaro and his wife Ashley, Andrea Clifton Conard and her husband Jeff, Noah Weller and his wife Janelle, Sam Weller and his fiancée Bobbi LaBrant, Jeffrey Glass, Solomon Weller, Timothy Glass, and Chloe Weller.

Sam is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Addison Marmaro, Emilia Marmaro, and Jack Marmaro (& Nora Clifton due in March 2021).  Sam is also survived by his sister Betty Ann Keatts, as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Kenneth Clifton and his beloved Aunt Maude “Sug” Woodburn, as well as two grandsons Seth Weller & Thomas Glass.

“Papaw” Sam Clifton will be dearly missed.  A private family gathering will be held at Bay Pines Memorial Cemetery.

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