Clarence O. Compton

January 1, 1919 - October 4, 2010

Clarence Oscar Compton of Sugar City, Colorado passed away in the Juniper Village Care Center in Lamar, Colorado on October 4, 2010 at the age of 91. Clarence was born January 1, 1919 in Keota, Colorado to Edgar James and Susie Bond Compton. Clarence was one of eleven children which included 5 brothers—Frank, Logan, Oscar, Roy and Lloyd and 5 sisters—Irene, Mildred, Dorothy, Elba and Hazel. Clarence was raised in Keota, Buckingham and Stoneham areas in Colorado where he attended school. The family moved to Milan, Missouri and that is where Clarence graduated from the eighth grade. He worked very hard even as a child helping his parents on the farm. As a teenager, the family moved back to Colorado to the Rago-Lindon area where Clarence worked on area farms helping his family financially so his younger brothers and sisters could attend high school. Clarence and Helen Birdie Attebery were married on April 21, 1938 in Sterling, Colorado. To this union of 64 years 11 months, three daughters were born: Hazel Joyce Kight of El Paso, Texas; Judith Kaye Hoyt of Akron, Colorado and June Elizabeth Wolfe (Jack) of Lamar, Colorado. Clarence joined the United States Maritime Service in October of 1943 as an Apprentice Seaman and was shipped to the Philippines. While on board the U.S.A.T. General McRae, he learned how to swim and told us stories of how he played with a pet monkey and enjoyed watching the gray whales and dolphins swimming nearby the ship. After being on board for a month, it was discovered Clarence was color blind, which disqualified him to serve in the Maritime Service. Clarence joined the United States Army in 1944 and entered Basic Training in the Infantry Division. He attended Army Ground Forces School in Ft, Warren, Wyoming for heavy equipment operator. Clarence learned how to operate caterpillars, bulldozers, clam shell shovels, rock crushers, cranes and other heavy construction equipment. He served with the Headquarters and Service Company, 871 Engineer Aviation Battalion in Japan where he operated heavy equipment used in construction and maintenance work on roads and airports. While in the service, Clarence received the following decorations and citations: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Metal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon; World War II Victory Metal; Army of Occupation Metal; Good Conduct Metal; 30 Caliber Rifle Marksmanship Award; In 1946, Clarence was honorably discharged as a Technician 4th Grade in the 1629 Engineer Construction Battalion in Camp Beale, California. After his discharge from the Army, Clarence was employed by Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in McCook, Nebraska. He worked on a 6-man railroad bridge crew, which built and repaired wooden bridges, built trestles, drove piling, put on planks and caps and laid ties. He would ride the trains back and forth to work from Akron, Colorado to McCook, Nebraska. which began his love of the trains. During the Depression years, Clarence worked on WPA projects. In the late 1940's, the family moved from Akron area to Crawford, Colorado where he was self-employed building small ponds, and doing dozer work. In the winter months, he would live in a tent cutting cedar posts and logging timber. In 1956, Clarence started working for Colorado Contractor Construction Company doing heavy construction work on the Western Slope of Colorado building many highways and reservoirs. The two main projects were the Dillon Reservoir and the Million Dollar Highway. The family moved several times a year following Clarence's work. In 1964, he started working for the Colorado Department of Transportation in Sterling, Colorado where he studied and passed his GED for future job advancements. In 1968, he was promoted to Road Foreman in Sugar City, Colorado where the family made their home and he retired after 17 years of employment. Clarence was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. You would describe him as a friendly, honest, and hard-working man. He was a good provider to his family and a loving husband to his beloved wife Birdie. Clarence's work ethics were passed down to his daughters and their families. He was always proud of his work and expected the same high standards from his children. Clarence was blessed with 4 Grandsons: Michael Warren Kight, Bradley Joe Fedorczyk, John Keith Fedorczyk and Dennis Roger Wolfe and 1 Granddaughter Laurie Lorraine Kight. Great Grand-Children: Rodney Kight, Nathan Kight, Joshua Kight, Sydney Monroe Wolfe, Dillon Michael Wolfe, Lauren Louise Fedorczyk and Kurt John Fedorczyk. Clarence's hobbies included fishing, hunting, camping, gardening and watching wildlife. He also enjoyed baseball and football and would tease his wife for watching Professional Wrestling. The family would play cards and board games where Clarence would win most of the time even in his later years. Clarence toured most of the United States and part of Canada and Mexico with Birdie and after retirement, they spent their winters in Texas and Arizona. In 2003, Clarence moved to Lamar to be close to his daughter June. Clarence will be remembered and sadly missed by his family, relatives and many friends. Graveside funeral services will be held at the Akron Cemetery in Akron, Colorado on October 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Ian Blacker officiating. Military Honors by the Akron VFW Post 8064. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the following: Lamar Area Hospice, P. O. Box 843, Lamar, Colorado 81052; Akron Veteran's of Foreign War, Post 8064, Akron, CO 80720 or to the Charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.