Clifton Odell Denny Jr.

Clifton Odell Denny, Jr. died on November 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 92.  He was born October 14, 1924 to Clifton Odell Denny, Sr. and Arrie Byrd Denny in Winston Salem.  He graduated from Gray High School in January 1941 and went to work in Newport News, Virginia building liberty (cargo) ships.  He also contributed to the building of the aircraft carrier Intripid.  He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps reporting for basic training in February of 1943.  He became a top turret gunner and flight engineer on a B-24 bomber with the 449th Bomb Group, “ the Flying Horsemen” in Italy during WWII.  From October 1944 to May 1945 he completed 25 combat missions with 180 combat hours.  After the war, he attended Georgia Tech where he became a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.  Before graduation he entered the Air Force Officers Cadet School in order to attain his lifetime ambition of becoming a pilot.  He received his commission on 30 September 1949 after completion of Aviation Cadet Training.   He served overseas in Hawaii from 24 June 1951 to 29 May 1955 and on Resolution Island from 26 June 1959 to 18 May1960.  Stateside he was stationed in California, Fordland, Missouri and Charleston, South Carolina. He attained the rank of Major and retired with 20 years service on 1 March 1966 from Stewart Air Force Base, Newburg, New York.  During his military service he received Air Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Silver Service Star, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.

He married Lorraine “Lorie” Vivian Strom in Honolulu Hawaii on August 16, 1953.  They became the parents of Debra Lee Denny and Charles Steven Denny.  Following retirement, he became a corporation pilot for Ashland Oil and eventually retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  During his lifetime he traveled to all seven continents, finally visiting Antarctica in his 80’s.

He is survived by his children: Debra Lee Black and husband Roger and Charles Steven Denny and wife Brenda; four grandchildren: Amy Lynn Black McKee, Sarah Ann Black Smith, Kirk Clifton Denny and Steven Robert Denny; one great-grandchild: Brooklyn Lorraine McKee; and special friend Beulah “Boots” Baker.  His siblings also survive him: Betty Lou Chamberlain, Dorothy Lee “Dot” Childress, Levine Ellis and Doug Denny.

His wife Lorie died in December 1997 preceding him in death.  He will be buried at the Florence National Cemetery, Florence, South Carolina where his wife is also buried.

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