Gerald Erwin Clayton passed away peacefully from this life to his eternal home and loving arms of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, on August 24, 2011 at Carrington Place Nursing Home, Matthews, NC.

Born on November 4, 1911, in Winnipeg, Canada, he was the son of the late Carl Milton Clayton, Sr. and Lillian Case Clayton of Fleming County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of five children and learned hard work at an early age.

He was from the pioneer families of Clayton, Case, Caywood and Carter that came to KY as early as 1800 from North Carolina and Virginia and helped settle the foothills of eastern KY along with Missouri and Texas.

He was a 1936 graduate of Huntington High School, Huntington, WV, Glasses Welding School and Stonewall Jackson Welding School, both of Charleston, WV. During World War II, he served his country stateside as a certified welder for the Army Corps of Engineers in Granite City, Illinois and later worked as a welder and pipefitter, retiring from Pipefitters Local Union 625, Charleston, WV. In addition to his work, his interests included his family, church, community and travel.

He was a former resident of Dunbar, and a long standing member of the First Baptist Church of Dunbar; charter member and past president of the Dunbar Civitan Club; charter member and past president of the Dunbar Coin Club; treasurer of the Dunbar Welfare Club; Order of Eastern Star Chapter 133, Dunbar, and a 50 plus year member of the Dunbar Masonic Lodge #159. He and his wife moved to the Charlotte, NC area in 1999, where he attended the Pineville Methodist Church.

Above all, Gerald was a devoted son, brother, loving husband, father and grandfather and great grandfather, who was very proud of his family and inspired them to achieve. He will be truly remembered and deeply missed by many.

He is survived by two daughters, Judith Ann (Alex) Pozniak of Winston-Salem, NC and Norma Jean (Fred) Charles of Matthews, NC; five grandchildren, Jeanne (Tim) Brooker of Winston-Salem, NC, Christine Jolly of Winston-Salem, NC, Nancy Pozniak of Cleveland, OH, Brian Charles of Matthews, NC and Bethany Westbury (William) of SC; great-grandchildren, Sarah and Alex Brooker and Helena Jolly.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, in 2009, Erma Jean Boggess Clayton, whom he married on February 26, 1938, in Cattlesburg, KY; brothers, Walden Hord, Gwen Case and Carl Milton, Jr.; sister, Juanita Beth Couch Henson; and his mother, and father-in-law, William Elbin Boggess and Bessie Ethel Beckner, and other famly and special friends.

Wearing his Masonic apron, he was buried at Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar, beside his beloved wife. The family deeply appreciates your prayers and may kindnesses as together we celebrate and honor his life. A private memorial service to celebrate his life we be held later.

The family especially thanks the dedicated staff of Carrington Place Nursing Home in Matthews, NC for their loving care, plus other medical professionals who have helped care for him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.