Clifford Orvil Batson 96, passed away February 12, 2020, at his home in Midwest City with his family by his side. Clifford was born on September 18, 1923 to Roy and Rachel Batson in Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by Edna, his wife of 67 years, his parents, and his three brothers Arthur, Albert, Jack and one sister, Emma Jean Hutchcraft. He is survived by his youngest sister, Mary Bullard, two daughters, Barbara Cranford and her husband David and Debra Batson and one son, Mark and his wife Norma plus five grandchildren, ten great- grandchildren and three great- great- grandchildren.
He proudly served his country during WWII and the Korean conflict, receiving a Purple Heart for injuries incurred with the Marines on Saipan. As a Marine in the second division, he fought at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa and was part of the occupational force on the Japanese homeland before returning home and marrying Edna on March 4, 1946. He went to work at Tinker Air Force Base before serving in the Korean Conflict with the Army Reserves and returned to work at Tinker until he retired in 1974.
He along with fellow Marines in the L-3-6 co-wrote a book about their experience during the war. A copy of the book resides in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and traveling and most of all his loving family. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, until we see him again.
Services will be held Saturday, February 22nd at 10:00am at the Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home at 5005 SE 29th St. in Del City, OK 73115
