Ralph Vernon Claytor (abt. 1923 - abt. 1993)

Born about 12 Sep 1923 in Roanoke, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died about 10 Oct 1993 at about age 70 in Roanoke, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Ralph Claytor is Notable.

Ralph Claytor served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 4 Sep 1943
Unit(s): 332nd Fighter Group
Service ended:

Ralph Vernon Claytor served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.

Ralph was born in 1923 in VIrginia to John B. Claytor and Roberta Woodfin.

He graduated from Lucy Addison High School in Roanoke.

He passed away in 1993.^[1][2]

Obituary

CLAYTOR, Ralph Vernon, 70, of Roanoke, passed away Sunday, October 10, 1993, at his home. He was a son of the late Dr. John Bunyan (J.B.) Claytor Sr. and Roberta Woodfin Claytor, born September 12, 1923. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Anderson Claytor in August of 1983; brother, Dr. Frank William (F.W.) Claytor in October 1972 and sister-in-law, Natalie Beale Claytor in November 1983.

During World War II he was a captain in the Army Air Force and was one of the first black pilots. He was a master mechanic and was owner and operator of Claywood Esso Station in Gainsboro and on Williamson Rd. and Orange Ave., N.W. Later he became manager of GEMCO and was founder and president of the accounting firm "VER-FAY INC." at the time of his death.

Survivors include one daughter, one son, four sisters, two brothers and sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, Mrs. Willie Anderson; brother-in-law, in-laws, and a host of aunts; nieces; nephews; cousins and friends.^[3] (Note:Names of living persons removed for privacy reasons).

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, accessed 20 January 2023 - Find A Grave: Memorial #214043767 for Ralph Vernon Claytor (12 Sep 1923–10 Oct 1993), citing Williams Memorial Park, Roanoke, Roanoke City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Barbara Chittum Hutchens (contributor 47335581).
2. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch Record: JGWR-TZ7 : 11 January 2021, Ralph V Claytor, Oct 1993; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
3. ↑ "Claytor, Ralph Vernon," The Roanoke Times, 12 Oct 1993. Web. (newsbank.com, accessed 20 Jan 2023). See also FamilySearch Record: QK4F-1DNY

See also:

• 1930 census - "United States Census, 1930", FamilySearch Record: CZC2-63Z : accessed 20 January 2023, Ralph V Clayton in household of John B Clayton, Big Lick, Roanoke, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 9, sheet 36A, line 40, family 751, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C., 2002), roll 2481; FHL microfilm 2,342,215.
• 1940 census - "United States Census, 1940", FamilySearch Record: VTMV-Y85 : Mon 20 Mar 2023, Entry for John B Clayton and Roberta M Clayton, 1940.
• 1943 enlistment - "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946", FamilySearch Record: K8T8-47V : 5 December 2014, Ralph V Claytor, enlisted 04 Sep 1943, Roanoke, Virginia, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• 1945 marriage (1) to Lillian - "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988", FamilySearch Record: QK9N-RLGW : 20 February 2021, Ralph Vernon Claytor and Lillian Harriett Paxton, 28 Jul 1945; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (2012); citing Roanoke, , Virginia, United States, certificate 16505, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
• 1947 divorce - "Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988", FamilySearch Record: QVRK-MHB3 : 3 March 2021, Lillian Paxton Claytor and Ralph Vernon Claytor, 29 Aug 1947; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (2012); citing Roanoke, Virginia, United States, certificate #4277, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
• 1950 census - not found
• 1955 marriage (2) to Marian - "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988", FamilySearch Record: QK9N-W71N : 20 February 2021, Ralph V Claytor and Marian C Anderson, 02 Jun 1955; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (2012); citing Roanoke, , Virginia, United States, certificate 11094, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

• Family Search profile - Ralph Vernon Claytor