Clifford Ralph Welborn

Clifford Ralph Welborn lived a diverse and interesting life with so many facets that would certainly make a great novel. Despite being badly burned in an explosion on his fishing boat, then acquiring shingles and enduring many years of pain, it was prostate cancer that he succumbed to at 97 years of age. One would never have known how he suffered all those years of pain because he had an incredibly strong will and determination to make the best of life, and that he did. He never complained or dwelt on the hardships, he would just say, “I’ve got so much to be doing.” In his shirt pocket, he always carried a little notepad where he wrote so many details of things he needed to take care of.

Cliff was the second born son of Ralph and Florine Welborn, born on October 28, 1923 in Jaraso, Colorado. During his early years at home, he was very close to his older brother Floyd and his two sisters, Thelma and Darleen. The family lived at Cherry Creek where Ralph was well known as a bear hunter. Cliff loved to tell stories about his father’s many bear hunts and one particular bear still hangs in his home. When Cliff was two years old, the family moved to Farmington, New Mexico in his father’s 1930-something Dodge car that Ralph bought for $600. The family farmed there, in Cedar Hill, and Ignacio until they moved to Kettle Falls, Washington in the mid-1930s. During this time the Grand Coulee Dam was going to be built so the family moved to higher ground in Daisy, Washington because the land they were farming was to be flooded for the dam. While haying one day, the bailer rolled over a fawn. Cliff took it home and named her FayAnn and raised her as his pet. In early the early 1940s, the family moved to Loma Linda, California where family members of Florine’s had settled. The Welborn’s were all devout Seventh Day Adventist.

In the mid-1940s, Cliff followed his brother’s footsteps and joined the Army Air Force. He was stationed in Texas to learn how to be a pilot. However, soon after the war ended that program ended as well. Cliff was given the option to leave the service, so he opted out because he said, “I’ve got so much more to be doing.” It wasn’t long after that he decided to go to Kodiak, Alaska. He read books from the library and took and passed a test to work on large heating systems for large buildings. Cliff was never afraid of challenges or hard work. After his time in Alaska, he returned to Southern California. He married his first wife, Dee, and her son Allen Scott. Cliff would be the only father figure that Allen Scott ever knew. Soon after, Cliff started working with his brother, Floyd, and uncle, Jewell Kinder, in their plastering business. Cliff did so well in that trade that he decided to start his own business which he eventually passed on to his son.

After work one day, Cliff and Floyd went out on the town and met a group of sorority girls. They book took a liking to one particular brunette named Charline Moulton. Cliff eventually won her hand and they were married in the early 1950s. They made their home in Garden Grove, California. Together they had two children, James Ralph in 1955 and Lauralee in 1956. They divorced when the children were young but Cliff stayed very involved in their lives. Sometime in the 1960s, Cliff met and married Evelyn with whom he lived on a small horse ranch when Orange County, California was still somewhat rural (until progress built a freeway right through that area). They had no children and that marriage later ended as well.

While plastering full time he also ran a Bait Barge business out of Newport Beach, California. Cliff’s son, Jim, eventually took over the plastering business and Cliff moved to San Bernardino and began his next life’s adventures. Cliff had quite a business way about him and soon started a video game business and two other businesses. As a teenager, his son Jim helped him with all three of these businesses. His brother Floyd later gave up plastering and moved to Idaho. Cliff took his children on many trips to Floyd’s ranch above Kooskia, Idaho on Tahoe Ridge to visit their cousins. He enjoyed many hunting trips with his brother in the mountains of the Nez Perce/Clearwater forest.

In the early 1970s, Cliff followed in his family’s footsteps and started what would be many years as a caregiver in the Shelter Home business caring for developmentally disabled individuals in two separate homes: the “Fontan” in Rialto and Vermont Homes in Fontana. His son Jim, along with his wife Lynn, helped in those businesses after Jim got out of the Navy.

One day, Cliff while attending his step-son Allen Scott’s wedding, he met a beautiful Filipino woman named Florita. Allen was marrying her neighbor’s daughter, so this allowed many more opportunities for the two to see one another. At the wedding, Cliff surprised Florita with the pick-up line, “So have you ever felt electrical vibes about a person?” At this, Florita laughed and thought how ridiculous that line was. They continued to run into each other at parties and after one particular night as Florita was leaving in her car, Cliff stuck his head in the car window and gave her a big smooch. Later there was big earthquake in Southern California and Florita’s house was damaged. This gave her the opportunity to call Cliff and ask for a bid for the repairs, knowing that he had been a plaster contractor. It was then that their three year engagement began. They flew to Idaho and were married at Cliff’s sister, Thelma’s home in Kooskia, Idaho. Cliff told Florita right from the get go, “I’m only good for about five years.” To which she replied, “Oh, I’ve got you forever now.” and that most certainly has been the truth.

During the past 44 years together, Cliff has continued to hold true to his words, “I’ve got more to be doing.” as he has been involved in many different businesses: a mine in Kettle Falls, Washington, a pawn shop in Couer d’Alene, Idaho, a motel in Sydney, Montana, many rentals in San Bernardino, California, and for 30+ years an RV park for snowbirds in Quartsite, Arizona called “The Happy J.” Cliff had a soft heart for anyone with a hard luck story and spent much time, energy, and money helping those in need. His soft heart showed in his later years when he brought home two Siamese kittens named Snapfu and Kit. They traveled everywhere with Cliff and Florita in their motorhome. Cliff and Florita spent many years fishing in Mexico and traveling from one coast to another to visit family. They lived a very full life together.

Cliff is survived by his wife of 44 years, Florita; son, Jim (wife Lynn) of Grangeville, Idaho; daughter, Lauralee of Walla Walla, Washington; ten grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and Florita’s son’s wives, Lark Elze of Northern California and Kristen of La Cresenta, California; as well as Snapfu and Kit of the family home in San Bernardino, California. He is preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, and all four of Florita’s children, Jeanie, Billy, Tim, and Brad.

A private family memorial will be held in Loma Lina, California at a later date. He will be interred in Montecito Memorial Park alongside his parents.

The family would like to thank all who have called and stopped by with your condolences and support and they thank you for understanding the many challenges this has been for them during this unprecedented time with the restrictions of the COVID pandemic.

Cliff was an exceptional man who led an exemplary life and may we all be encouraged to face the days ahead with the mindset that “I’ve got so much more to be doing.”