Halbert L. Clinton

Monday, August 24, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel, 500 S. Main Street in Vandalia, Missouri 63382.
Officiating will be: Rev. Bob Hoehn.
Music provided by: selected favorite hymns.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Bill Stafford, Joe Salois, Donald Hoover, Glen Allen Bailey, Richard Jones and Donley Morris. Honoary pallbearers: Tom Sutton and John Fitzgerald.

Halbert Lee "Hal" Clinton passed away at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2009 at the Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Missouri. Hal graduated from Steelville High School in 1937. After high school, he worked for a construction company before joining the U. S. Navy in 1943. While in the Navy, Hal was a part of the construction battalion (CB's) and was stationed in the Pacific in Bora Bora and Saipan during World War II. After his service commitment, he returned to Steelville and worked at the Post Office. During this time he met his future wife, Shirley Elzea who was teaching music in the schools. After their marriage, they moved to St. Louis where Hal attended the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and graduated from there in 1952. He and Shirley moved to Vandalia in 1953 and bought the Ellis Brothers Drug Store. Hal operated the Clinton Rexall Drug until April 1972. At that time, Hal and John Fitzgerald merged the two drug stores into one, the Vandalia Drug Store. Hal retired on July 1, 1995 when he and John sold the drug store. Hal was a member of the First Baptist Church in Vandalia where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a devoted contributor to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry. Hal was also a charter member of the Vandalia Country Club and played golf there for many years. He was a 50+ year member of the Vandalia Masonic Lodge #491 and had served on the Vandalia Board of Public Works for many years. His hobbies included woodworking, coin collecting, antiquing with Shirley, spending time with his family and watching his grandchildren participate in their different sporting events. Hal was an avid Cardinal baseball fan.

Born: March 16, 1920 in Steelville, Missouri the son of George and Alice (Halbert) Clinton.

Married: Shirley Lois Elzea on June 18, 1947 in Vandalia, Missouri; she preceded him in death on June 30, 2004.

Survivors include: one son: Marcus L. Clinton of Hannibal, Missouri; one daughter: Charlotte L. and husband, Robert Vilce of Anchorage, Alaska; three grandchildren: Maija Vilce, Eric Vilce and Lydia Vilce all of Anchorage.

Preceded in death by: parents; wife, Shirley; one brother: George Clinton and one half-brother: Clay Clinton; one sister: Charlotte Clinton and one half-sister: Juanita Clinton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry, P O Box 64, Vandalia, Missouri 63382-0064.