Clifford Rayverne Roffe

Retired Master Sgt. Clifford Rayverne Roffe, 77, of Fort Worth passed away from a lengthy illness on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. A 23-year Army veteran in communications-electronics avionics maintenance chief, he was part of the 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile) soldiers of the "First Team" in Vietnam. He was a Vietnam War veteran with 11 campaigns, National Defense Service medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and three Bronze Stars. His unit received a Presidential Citation medal from President Nixon awarded for "Gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions." The first unit to receive such in the war. He was a marksman and received Expert on the Rifle, Carbine, Pistol, grenade, and machine gun. An avid fisherman, painter, and builder, he also enjoyed building model radio-controlled airplanes from scratch. He could make something from nothing. After retirement from the military, he worked for General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin as a logistics engineer in Fort Worth. He was part of the Peace Vector program for Lockheed for eight years in Cairo, Egypt. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on June 15, 1939, to James C. Roffe and Altie Roffe. Survivors: He is survived by his wife, Marie-Jose' Lovati Roffe; his children, Corinne R. Roffe and Eric Clifford Roffe; siblings, Franklin, William (deceased), Ellis, Robert, Ann Roffe Fisher, Evelyn Poag and Chester (deceased) and their families.