David Hall Clinton, Jr

David Hall Clinton, Jr. was the oldest son born to Betty and David, Sr on August 15, 1937. He returned to heaven and the direct presence of our Savior on March 11, 2025.

Dave was born and grew up mostly in Los Angeles, California. Griffith Park was his “backyard”. After his parents’ divorce and the tragic death of his close friend from the emerging violence in their neighborhood, his Uncle Clifford encouraged Betty to move the boys to his summer home in Mt. Hermon in central California. Mt. Hermon, home of a Christian conference center on the edge of a redwood forest near Santa Cruz, was a significant change from the urban life with which he was familiar. The transition to such a different school environment proved challenging. Dave enlisted in the Navy at age 17, shortly after he met Janice Lucille Kennedy, the niece of his mother’s new husband. While he completed his Naval training, Dave continued to return to Mt. Hermon to visit Jan. Their relationship grew and after two years they married. The marriage enthusiastically included Jan’s daughter, Joanne, sealing their relationship as her “daddy”.

Dave’s chosen field of naval service was submarines. He helped build, commission, and crew the USS Theodore Rosevelt (SSBN), one of the first nuclear-powered, guided missile carrying submarines. Dave’s early days as a submariner took the family to several locations along the West coast, including San Diego where the family added two more daughters, Connie Ruth and two years later, Bonnie June.

Eventually, submarine bases expanded to the East coast and the family moved first to New London, CT and then to Charleston S.C. He served on four different nuclear submarines and land-based support centers for submarines in and around Charleston. Dave retired from the Navy in 1975. He continued to work on submarines as a civilian at the Charleston Naval Shipyard until 1993.

Dave’s hobbies included a love of cars and racing. He enjoyed NASCAR races and followed favorite drivers and their teams. Dave participated in competitive sanctioned Drag Racing and then precision-course driving with the Mustang Club. He owned, raced, and customized several Mustangs.

Always a man who loved the sea, he and Jan bought a 31ft. sailboat and enjoyed the Intercoastal Waterway for many years. He bicycled the Blue Ridge Parkway with his brother-in-law. He participated in Triathlon competition, as well as running and bicycling events. Then he “retired”.

In retirement, he gave his passion and time to Celebrate Recovery. He and Jan personally participated in and helped support several CR programs. Their focus for

the last two decades has been the CR ministry at Beach Church in Myrtle Beach, where Dave was, until recent years, a fixture at the door to welcome, greet, and listen as participants arrived at the weekly meetings. His roles in the program brought him great joy and was a joint ministry for him and Jan. Dave believed CR was a turning point in his personal life and resulted in a renewed depth to his faith and the life practice of those beliefs. In addition to CR, Dave was part of two morning Men’s Bible Study groups, dating back over three decades.

Dave’s greatest joy was his family. His greatest love was for his wife of 68 years, Janice. He was preceded in death by his middle daughter, Connie Jumper. We rejoice that they are reunited in God’s glory. He is survived by his daughters, Joanne Edwards and Bonnie Duckworth, and Janice Gilliland their sister adopted by love 56 years ago. Dave consistently blessed the lives of his seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He stretched that love to Texas, onto his “granddaughter”, “great” and even “great-great-grandchildren” there.

A Memorial Service will be held at Beach Church, Myrtle Beach S.C. on March 20 at 4:00pm. His ashes will be interred at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on June 16 at 1:00pm.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you……” Isaiah 41:10