Ronald Clifford

RONALD WALTER CLIFFORD May 30, 1934 - March 11, 2025

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart, on March 11, 2025, Ronald W. Clifford peacefully passed away at home in the presence of his loving family.

Ronnie was born into this world on May 30, 1934, to proud parents, G. Walter and Rita (Robinson) Clifford. Ronnie graduated from 8th grade in a one room schoolhouse in 1948 and from Lyndon Institute in 1952.

Born on a working dairy farm, and at the tender age of 3, Ronnie was plowing and harrowing the fields with his horses, Dick and Colonel. With the "Clifford's Dairy'' milk route, at age 5, Ronnie was helping his Dad deliver about 60 quarts of bottled milk a day, to their Lyndon customers. Ronnie would collect the empties and make change for their customers. Throughout his 12 years of schooling Ronnie worked on his family farm 365 days a year, with some days being 12 plus hours long.

Shortly after high school graduation Ronnie married Lorraine Duperron. They purchased the family farm just up the road from Ronnie's parents. Over the next 10 years Ronnie and Lorraine would bring 4 children into this world. During this time Ronnie was very actively involved in both his an his parents family farms.

In the early 1960's, Ronnie became allergic to cow hair and would be forced to sell his family farm. Ronnie and Lorraine moved to Main Street in Lyndonville and Ronnie started his new career working for Lyndonville Electric Department. During this time Ronnie found his working passion being an electrician. He schooled himself at home and obtained his Masters Electrician License in 1970. It wouldn't be until 2017, after 50 years as an electrician, when he would actually retire from electrical work. Still, from 2017 until his passing you could always count on him to lend a helping hand with any type of electrical problem. Also we need to make note of the fact that during the summers of these 50 years, electrical jobs were put on hold so he could continue to help his Dad and Uncle hay.

In the late 1970's Ronnie pursued another passion, becoming a private and instrument rated pilot. He and his Dad built the first airplane hangar at the Caledonia County Airport. Over the next 25 years, Ronnie flew many family, friends, and colleagues to various states.

In Ronnie's early years we saw him and Lorraine enjoying life by doing things like candlepin bowling at Sunset Lanes in Lyndonville, playing cards on a Friday or Saturday night, dancing, golfing, skiing, and lots of traveling.

After dating for a couple years, Ronnie and Marilyn (Bailey) Garcia were married in December 1979. They spent 37 years together until Marilyn's passing in 2016. During this time, Ronnie and Marilyn enjoyed camping in their motor home, mini golf, reunions with Marilyn's family, and traveling to visit family and friends.

For the last 11 ½ years Dad so looked forward to his Friday nights eating pizza and playing Yahtzee with his 2 favorite daughters and their husbands, Linda and Steve, and Suzie and Jim.

Ronnie has a long list of accomplishments, some of which include being President and a Director of Lyndon Outing Club for a few terms, being President and Treasurer of the Pilots Association, Trustee of

the Lyndonville Congregational Church, his many years of donated service to the Caledonia County Fair Association and being a rigger/tagger for his son Brian's business, Kingdom Crane.

So, whether it be family man, first and foremost, a born and bred farmer for 90 years, a maple sugar

producer, a logger, a pilot, doing excacvating work, building many, many, many houses, or just having a wealth of knowledgeable wisdom, it can most assuredly be said that Ronnie was a jack of all trades and he was definitely a master of all of them. Along with all of that, the number of stories Ronnie could tell you, was priceless. One final note that needs to be told, last summer at age 90, Ronnie was still producing those square hay bales. Ronnie most certainly lived a very rich and rewarding life.

Left to honor Ronnie's legacy and cherish his memory, he leaves his daughters, Linda C. Lee and husband, Steve, Suzan Connor and husband, Jim, and his son Brian Clifford (Jane), all of Lyndonville, his grandchildren Denise Carreau Montgomery, Paul Carreau, and Joshua Baillargeon and wife, Jessica, his great grandchildren Jacob Montgomery, Emma Montgomery, Tyler Montgomery, and Maisy Baillargeon

He also leaves his nephews Larry Ashe, and David Ashe and wife, Gail, his great nephews Tod Ashe and Jeff Ashe, and his cousin Marie Clifford and husband, Joe Tarala.

Also left behind are his stepchildren Michelle Garcia Stuck, Mike Garcia and wife, Wendy, and Mary Garcia Straight and husband, Dennis, his step grandchildren Leanna Rendell and husband, Scott, Jessica Garcia, Christina Garcia, Michael Garcia, and Jackie Patridge.

The list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the many, many, many friends and acquaintances that Ronnie also leaves behind.

Ronnie was predeceased by his parents, G. Walter and Rita Clifford, the mother of his children, Lorraine Duperron Charron, his wife Marilyn Garcia Clifford, his son, Stephan Clifford, and his sister and brother-in-law, Reg and Marilyn (Clifford) Ashe.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11 am at the Lyndon Center Cemetery.

Donations made in Ronnie's memory may be directed to Northern Counties Health Care (Hospice), 161 Sherman Dr, St Johnsbury, VT 05819.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.guibordfh.com.