Paige Harvey Clanton

Paige Harvey Clanton, 85, of Johnson City, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 8, 2010, at the Johnson City Medical Center, after a brief illness while surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Clanton was born in South Hill, VA, on December 27, 1924, to the late Olive Harvey Clanton and the late Robert Lee Clanton Sr. At an early age, his family returned to Altavista, VA, where his father had opened the first drug store in 1910. As a youth, he worked for the Altavista Journal & Clantons Drug Store. He was a 1942 graduate of Altavista High School. He was also a graduate of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville and attended graduate school at the University of Richmond. Mr. Clanton was a member of Central Baptist Church. He was also a charter member of the Nativic Civitan Club, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2108, and a member of the Elks Lodge #825, where he served two terms as Exalted Ruler, 1990-1991. He was employed by Pfizer Laboratories as a medical service representative in April of 1952. Mr. Clanton was the first medical service representative to be headquartered in Johnson City to serve East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. He retired from Pfizer after thirty-two years of service. He had been a resident of Johnson City since 1952, and loved the area and its people. Mr. Clanton was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. While serving in Europe with the 222nd Infantry Division of the 42nd Rainbow Division, he was among the first five soldiers of his division to enter Dachau Concentration Camp during the liberation of that camp in April 1945. He was again called to active duty from the Army Reserve and deployed to Korea in 1950-1951, where he served in a MASH unit. He was an avid reader, enjoyed gardening, and had a special interest in military history. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert L. Clanton Jr.; and his brother-in-law, Hamden Bigelow 'HB'? Nicholas. Mr. Clanton is survived by his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Gwendolyn Gregory Clanton, of the home; his son, Dr. Ashby Paige Clanton and his wife, Connie Miller Clanton, of Johnson City; his daughter, Susan Paige Clanton and her husband, Gregg Simpson, of Weston, Ohio; grandchildren, Lauren Clanton Kidd and her husband, Andrew Thomas Kidd, Nicholas Ashby Clanton, all of Johnson City, and Kaitlin Paige Simpson, of Bowling Green, Ohio; a sister, Frances Clanton Nicholas, of Altavista, VA; and a host of friends. A Celebration of Life for Paige Harvey Clanton will be held on Tuesday evening, January 12, 2010, at 7:00 PM at the Morris-Baker Funeral Home with Dr. Ronald F. Murray officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-7:00 PM. A graveside committal service with military honors provided by VFW Post 4933 will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home no later that 1:30 PM to travel in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Officers and members of the Nativic Civitan Club, as well as Butch Carr, Bill Melton, Dean Owens and Jim Cross will serve as honorary pallbearers. For those who wish to make memorial contributions in Mr. Clantons honor, they may be made to Central Baptist Church, Mexico Mission Project, 300 N. Roan St., Johnson City, TN 37601; or the Johnson City Public Library, 100 W. Millard St., Johnson City, TN 37604.