He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather, uncle and nephew.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sharon M. Clayton; sons, Victor and wife Cynthia, Kenneth; sisters, Sharon A. Clayton, Brenda Carson, Linda Clayton; brother, Daniel Sheidler; grandchildren, Leslie Smith, Victoria Hutton, Lindsey Clayton, John Paul, Jose Lopez; great-grandchildren and very dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents; his oldest son, John D. Clayton, Jr.; grandson, Christopher; sisters, Vera Cardwell, Cynthia Winesett, Peggy LaGrand.
He was born in Umatilla, Florida. He was the oldest of eight children of Rudolph and Vera Clayton. He graduated from King High School. He worked at CSX Transportation for 40 years in Management and was on the Board of the Railroad and Industrial Federal Credit Union for 25 years.
He loved people and made friends wherever he went. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. He was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be sorely missed by all.
A funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 5048 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in his memory to The American Heart Association.