In Memory Of
Clayton Autris White Jr.
1942
2020
Clayton Autris White Jr.
November 30, 1942 — June 8, 2020
Clayton A. White Jr, son of Lillian and Clayton A White Sr, was born in Fredericktown, Missouri, where he attended Campbell Grade School before graduating from Fredericktown High School in 1960.
He spent the next couple of years working before deciding to enter the U.S. Navy. Training to be an Aviation Fire Control Technician in Millington, TN and Sanford, FL, he served with the VAH-1/RVAH-1 squadron, where he made two cruises to the Mediterranean Sea, and one to the South China Sea, along with a shake-down cruise aboard the USS Independence (CVA-62). Additionally he performed the duties of technician for the AN/ASB-12 Bomb Director Set on the A5-A and RA-5C Vigilante aircraft and worked on both the flight line and in the Basic Automatic Checkout Equipment shop.
After completing his service with the Navy, he began a career with McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis working on electrical systems for the F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Clayton then turned his attention to furthering his education, graduating from the Mineral Area College in Flat River, (now Park Hills) Missouri, before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) in Rolla, Missouri.
In 1972 he married Virginia Lauer, and later moved to Huber Heights, Ohio to go on to start a family with three sons. In 1974 he began a career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he worked as an electronics engineer with the Aeronautical Systems Division, and with the Radar Systems branch in the Avionics Engineering Division. Working there until his retirement in 1999, he was involved in many radar projects across several aircraft and other related systems.
A lifelong fan of Nikola Tesla and his work, Clayton, at any given time, always had a number of hobby projects he would tinker with often involving radios, antennas, and/or electricity. For all that knew him, his desire to learn, the way he would choose his particular likes and dislikes, his way of looking at a world full of possibilities, and the infectious way he could get into fits of laughter telling stories even about being chased by a chicken in childhood, Clayton will be greatly missed.
Services were held at the Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations can be made in his name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. To share a memory of Clay or leave a special message for his family, please click the share memories tab above.
He spent the next couple of years working before deciding to enter the U.S. Navy. Training to be an Aviation Fire Control Technician in Millington, TN and Sanford, FL, he served with the VAH-1/RVAH-1 squadron, where he made two cruises to the Mediterranean Sea, and one to the South China Sea, along with a shake-down cruise aboard the USS Independence (CVA-62). Additionally he performed the duties of technician for the AN/ASB-12 Bomb Director Set on the A5-A and RA-5C Vigilante aircraft and worked on both the flight line and in the Basic Automatic Checkout Equipment shop.
After completing his service with the Navy, he began a career with McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis working on electrical systems for the F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Clayton then turned his attention to furthering his education, graduating from the Mineral Area College in Flat River, (now Park Hills) Missouri, before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) in Rolla, Missouri.
In 1972 he married Virginia Lauer, and later moved to Huber Heights, Ohio to go on to start a family with three sons. In 1974 he began a career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he worked as an electronics engineer with the Aeronautical Systems Division, and with the Radar Systems branch in the Avionics Engineering Division. Working there until his retirement in 1999, he was involved in many radar projects across several aircraft and other related systems.
A lifelong fan of Nikola Tesla and his work, Clayton, at any given time, always had a number of hobby projects he would tinker with often involving radios, antennas, and/or electricity. For all that knew him, his desire to learn, the way he would choose his particular likes and dislikes, his way of looking at a world full of possibilities, and the infectious way he could get into fits of laughter telling stories even about being chased by a chicken in childhood, Clayton will be greatly missed.
Services were held at the Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations can be made in his name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. To share a memory of Clay or leave a special message for his family, please click the share memories tab above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clayton Autris White Jr., please visit our flower store.
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