Clifton Odell Denny, Jr. October 14, 1924 - November 1, 2016 Myrtle Beach, SC Clifton Odell Denny, Jr. died on November 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 92. He was born on October 14, 1924 to Clifton Odell Denny, Sr. and Arrie Byrd Denny in Winston Salem, NC. He graduated from Gray High School in January 1941 and went on to work in Newport News, Virginia building liberty (cargo) ships. He contributed to the building of the aircraft carrier Intrepid. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. During WWII he was stationed in Italy and was part of the 449th Bomb Group and was a Top Turret Gunner and Flight Engineer in B-24s. After WWII, he attend Georgia Tech for two years, prior to entering Air Force Aviation Cadet training in 1949 as a member of 49C. He succeeded in obtaining is lifetime ambition to be a pilot. He retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1966 after 20 years' service. While in the Air Force, he spent a year on Resolution Island (remote duty) in the Arctic Circle. He married Lorraine "Lorie" Vivian Strom in Honolulu Hawaii on August 16, 1953 and was the parents to Debra Lee Denny and Charles (Chuck) Steven Denny. Following retirement, he became a corporate 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. His survived by his children: Debra Lee Black and husband Roger (Weddington, NC); Chuck Denny and wife Brenda (Raleigh, NC); four grandchildren Amy Lynn Black McKee (Charlotte, NC), Sarah Ann Black Smith (Denver, CO), Kirk Clifton Denny (Raleigh, NC), Steven Robert Denny (Raleigh, NC); one great grandchild Brooklyn Lorraine McKee; and special friend Beulah "Boots" Baker. His siblings also survive him: Betty Lou Chamberlain, Dorothy "DOT" Lee Childress, Levine Ellis and Doug Denny. His wife Lori, who died in December 1997, preceded him in death. He is to be buried at the Florence National Cemetery in Florence, SC, where his wife is also buried. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. December 16, 2016.
You can to the family or in memory of Clifton Denny.
Guestbook