George Weber Clayton (1916-2007)

CLAYTON, WEBBER, WARNKE

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 7/25/2016 at 16:02:08

George Weber Clayton, the son of George and Eva (Webber) Clayton was born May 6, 1916 in the Paullina Hotel which was owned by his parents. Weber attended elementary school in Granville in order to obtain his religious education. He traveled to Granville by train and lived with his maternal grandparents. He finished school in Paullina where he graduated from high school. Weber attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion S.D. and obtained a business degree.

Weber entered the U.S. Air Force and served in World War II from 1943-1946. He was awarded honors for the Asia Pacific Campaign, The American Campaign, The Efficiency Honor, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Philippine Ribbon. Weber was a sixty year American Legion member and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Weber had a love for basketball and was a four-year all-star team member in high school. In 1933, he was selected to be on the All-County Basketball Team. In 1935, he was honored by the Des Moines Register and placed on the Jack North Tribune Honor Roll. Weber enjoyed and participated in a number of different sports including basketball, baseball, football, bowling and golf. As a young man he saved a man from drowning in Lake Paullina.

Weber joined his father George Clayton as a hog buyer in Paullina. He treasured the friendships he made with the farmers who sold hogs to his business for more than 40 years.

Weber was an active member in the Paullina business community which included: being a Director of the Paullina Chamber of Commerce in 1944, when the Chamber was incorporated. He later served as the chamber’s president. He also was elected to the Union Township Clerk position for 35 years. Weber and John Lange co-managed the Paullina Lakers baseball team from 1949-1958. In 1973, Weber was instrumental in obtaining state funding to maintain and improve Mill Creek State Park by making a visit to Des Moines and meeting with Governor Bob Ray.

Weber passed away at the Paullina Care Center in Paullina on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 reaching the age of 91 years, 3 months and 29 days.

On October 3, 1949, Weber and Flora May Warnke were united in marriage in Sioux City, Iowa. Their entire married life has been spent in Paullina, where they raised their three children.

Weber is survived by his wife, Flora May of Paullina; three children, Georgia, Peggy, and Kim; four grandchildren, Sara, Tricia, Rick, John and Allison; also other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George & Eva; his brother, Josiah (LaTolla) Clayton and son-in-law, John Rick.

Eldridge Funeral Homes