Clarence Crampton Belton, Jr.,89 ,a resident of Richmond passed away on Wednesday,
January 11, 2012 at Chippenham Memorial Center in Richmond.
He was born on August 27, 1923 in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey and was the
son of the late Clarence C. Belton, Sr. and Grace Permelia Hagaman Belton.
Clarence lived in the twin borough of Peapack-Gladstone (Somerset County) which
was founded in 1912. A picturesque rural village (then & now) which still boasts stately
Victorians to charming cottages or classic capes featuring well tended green lawns and
blooming flower gardens. He spent an idyllic childhood there. Attended elementary school
in town and traveled by train to nearby Bernardsville, NJ (by train every day) to high school.
He graduated from Bernards High School on June 11, 1942. One of his favorite activities was
playing in the high school band (Baritone Horn) and his favorite teacher was the band
director, Mr. Swan. He especially liked it when Tommy Dorsey would go to the high school
and play his trombone.
Clarence married his high school sweetheart, Elaine on September 12, 1942. They had
three daughters, Jerilynn, Janice, and Debbie.
Clarence was inducted into the US Army on April 26, 1943 and served in the Asiatic-
Pacific campaign in Hawaii during WWII. He obtained many medals and awards while
serving, including American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct
Medal and WWII Victory Medal. Once home from the war he worked for the New Jersey Bell
Telephone Company as a lineman and started a Mink Farm-breeding several varieties of
mink, as a hobby. After leaving Bell Telephone he started working as a Timber Agent in New
Jersey which he pursued for the rest of his life.
Clarence married his second wife, Frances Elizabeth “Betsy” in August 1960 and they
had two sons, Mark and Keith Belton. Betsy also brought two daughters to the family,
Shelley and Cynthia Young, so now he had seven children.
Clarence always enjoyed being outside and walking in the woods, so his Timber Agent
days were perfect for him. He also became a partner in a sawmill in Delaware during the
1970’s which complimented his Timber job. Clarence was also interested in carpentry and
was proud to learn the craft of home building and construction from his cousin Ruth
Thomson’s husband. Clarence is predeceased by his two wives; Elaine, and Betsy Belton, and
brother, Ruland Hagaman Belton.
He is survived by his children, Janice E. Fabbri-Fritz and husband, Robert L. Fritz, M.D. of
Charlottesville, VA, Deborah C. West of Phoenix, AZ, Keith B. Belton, PhD., and wife, Karen
of Millersville, MD, Rear Admiral Mark J. Belton and wife, Mary Patricia of Luray, Jerilynn
L. Blaine and husband, Thomas of Phoenix, AZ; two step-daughters, Cynthia Jane Yard and
husband, Donald of Flemington, NJ, and Shelley Koss of Easton, PA; 18 grandchildren; 6
great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Graveside funeral services were
held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at Vaughan Cemetery, Sparta, NJ under the direction of
Goble Funeral Home. www.goblefuneral.com
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