Richard Clayton was born in Paoli, Indiana, to the late Charles Henry and Ina Marie Dewitt Clayton. He grew up on a farm and learned the value of hard work at an early age. He took a leap of faith when he left home to attend college at Indiana Central where he lettered in cross country running and played trumpet in the band. Upon graduation in 1956, he went on to earn a Master of Theology degree from Dayton Seminary and served nine years in the ministry. During his time at Indiana Central, he met and married the love of his life, the late Bonnie Eileen Coy Clayton. They enjoyed 49 years together, raising two children and moving all over the state of Indiana. While in Vincennes, Indiana, he eventually felt the call to reach people in the community that were aging. He attended classes at University of Louisville, and in 1971 received his second master's degree in community development. He began to work for Perdue University and was instrumental in many of the programs for seniors that are still in practice today. He spearheaded a trip to Hawaii at one point in order to take several senior citizens to Hawaii's Punchbowl Cemetery. Many of them had lost children, husbands, and other loved ones during WWII and wanted to see it for themselves. Church work and volunteer coordination can be very time consuming, but he and Bonnie always found a way to take the family on many adventures to have the time they needed as a family together. In 1975 they purchased a Putt-Putt Golf and Games in Chamblee, GA. Their son ran the course the first year before the rest of the family joined him. They all pitched in to make the course one of the more successful courses during that time. He helped his son coach a Junior Putters of America team from Chamblee, and in 1978 they won the National Championship. He enjoyed many years of relationships with many of those kids. We had a reunion in the early 2000's, and many of those kids came back with their families, several expressing that Richard and Bonnie had been the beacon of light in their life. They credited them with helping them become successful adults. Upon his wife Bonnie's passing in 2003, he later married Billie Jean Bowling Clayton. Billie and Richard enjoyed 17 years together before Billie passed in 2022. While he was married to Billie, he enjoyed being a part of her family, growing fond of her four girls and relishing the attention they showered him with. He did not take retirement lightly and went on to earn his CDL license, helping to run a big rig for a brief period. As his time drew closer, his heart was in Indiana. He so wanted to plant and walk along the rows of corn as he had done as a young boy. He had always had a green thumb, and it was hard for him to not be able to get out and move around. He had many plants and flowers in his room and would get excited just to watch them bloom. He tried to educate every hospice worker on how to plant things and how to prepare the soil. He would smile each time they came in and was always a sea of knowledge. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Ina and Charles; his siblings, Edward Wolfington, Jane Stuart, Paul Clayton, Louette Probst, Ronnie Clayton; his first wife, Bonnie Clayton, and later his second wife, Billie Clayton. Richard is survived by his children, Kevin Clayton, Sr. (Leslee Clayton) of Snellville, GA, and Brenda Sue Zolnik (Stan Zolnik) of Lithonia, GA; sister, Linda Buckallew; eleven grandchildren, Richard Zolnik (Brooke) of Chickamauga, GA, Hannah Zolnik Cortez (Ross Cortez) of Huntsville, AL, Susanna Zolnik Poncharik (Steve Poncharik) of Daytona Beach, FL, Stephen Zolnik (Olivia) of Portsmouth, RI, Ruthanna Zolnik of Lithonia, GA, Joanna Zolnik of Lithonia, GA, Kevin Clayton, Jr. (Allison) of Memphis, TN, Billy Clayton (Katy) of Nashville, TN, Matthew Clayton (Kendall) of Loganville, GA, Taylor Clayton of Snellville, GA, Beth Serra (Jonathan) of Monroe, GA. He had 11 great-grandchildren from his marriage to Bonnie: Beckett Clayton, Liam Clayton, Lucy Clayton, Jon Serra, Lily Jo Clayton, Joseph Serra, Madelyn Cortez, Joshua Poncharik, Lydia Zolnik, Emma Poncharik and Ryland Cortez. Additionally, he is survived by Billie's four daughters, Donna Stanberry of VA, Sherri (Perry Webb) of Fayetteville, GA, Christy Leatherwood (Ronnie) of Riverdale, GA, Karen Dunn (Lonnie) of Fayetteville, GA. Billie had many grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren. Richard adored them all, but he most enjoyed getting to know and be a part of MaryAnn Webb's life, as she lived with them in Fayetteville and helped them with day to day activities. He spent the remaining years after Billie passed away living with his son Kevin and daughter in law Leslee. His daughter Brenda was often at his side, and willingly helping anytime Kevin and Leslee needed a break. He passed peacefully with his son Kevin and his daughter Brenda by his side on April 9, 2024. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.