Mr. Donald Clement Jr.

Donald Clement, Jr. died July 8, 2015 at Salisbury, North Carolina. A native of Salisbury, he was born March 4, 1921, the son of the late Alice Vanderford and Donald Clement of Salisbury, the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis H. Clement of Salisbury and the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Vanderford of Salisbury. He was married to Ruth Ritchie Miller of Salisbury and they had two children. Ruth predeceased Don by thirty-four years. Don attended Frank B. John school and graduated from Boyden High School in Salisbury where he participated in many activities including football and wrestling. He twice won the North Carolina wrestling championship in his weight class with an undefeated record. He attended the University of North Carolina where he was captain of the freshman wrestling team. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Don left college and volunteered for the US Marine Corps. He served in the 1st Division of the Corps in the South Pacific theater in World War II for 26 months. On August 7, 1942 he was in the invasion of Guadalcanal, America's first offensive land battle of the War. He was involved in the capture of the island, a costly campaign that was planned to be over in 10 days but lasted four months. Later he participated in the invasion and battle at Cape Gloucester on the island of New Britain. He returned to the Marines during the Korean War. He said he often thought, while lying in some remote foxhole, that if he ever made it home, he would never leave. And stay he did. For over 70 years, Don Clement, Jr. was associated with the family business, Salisbury Motor Company, a Buick automobile dealership founded by his father in 1919 after he returned from World War I. A strong proponent of the principles and mission of Rotary International, Don served the local Rotary club with perfect attendance for over 67 years. He was club president in 1960. Some years ago a Rotary club tribute said, “...Don is a rare long-term guy. He is a man of quiet determination and possess an uncommon commitment to those American values that most of us cherish. Don stays the course, whether its his faith, his family, his business, his community or his Rotary.” A lifelong and committed member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Salisbury, Don served the church in many capacities including acolyte, usher, Sunday school teacher, and member of the Vestry. An early leader of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association event, he was a president of the NSSA Hall of Fame. Also, he was president of the Salisbury Country Club. Donald Clement, Jr. is survived by his beloved longtime companion Jewel Wolfe Ziprik of Salisbury; daughter Caroline C. Paylor of Charlotte, granddaughter Virginia V. Blythe and grandson Carl B. Paylor both of Charlotte; son Donald Clement III and wife Anne Scott of Salisbury and granddaughters Ruth Nicholas Clement of Salisbury, Katherine C. Tierney and husband John of Concord, NC, Anna Kerr Clement of Davidson, NC and grandson Donald Clement IV and wife Rebecca of Salisbury; great-grandchildren Elizabeth Tierney of Concord, NC, Kellie Clement of Davidson, NC and Donald Clement V of Salisbury; brother Edward H. Clement and wife Nancy of Salisbury. Visitation: Monday, July 13, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury. Service: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 2:30 pm at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salisbury with the Rev. Robert Black, minister of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at Rowan Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. The family greatly appreciates the dedication and extraordinary professional care given to Don by his special physician friends, Dr. Myron Goodman and Dr. Willard “Tommy” Thompson. Summersett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com

Mr. Donald Clement Jr.

March 4, 1921 - July 8, 2015