Clifford Jean Haines

A memorial service for Clifford Jean Haines, 92, of Rosston, are set for 11:00 AM Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Whaley United Methodist Church under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. No visitation is planned.
Clifford was born in Girard, Texas on March 9, 1921, the first born to Clifford Henry and Lora Haines. He passed away on May 17, 2013 in Denton.

Clifford graduated from Abilene High School in 1939. He was a great athlete in both football and basketball. His senior year, the Abilene High School basketball team played for the state championship but was defeated in the finals. He attended Abilene Christian College for three years on a football scholarship. During that time he learned to fly and later became a flight instructor before the war. After WWII started, he volunteered and joined the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Colorado where he continued training pilots for combat duty in B-25 bombers. Towards the end of the war, he was sent to the Philippines where he provided air cover for our ground troops during WWII. When the war ended, Clifford returned to Texas and enrolled in Hardin Simmons University completing his Business degree. Hardin Simmons University is where his parents had always wanted him to go and he was glad that he was able to achieve their wishes.

In 1947, he moved to Ft. Worth where he went to work as a manager at Montgomery Ward. It was at Montgomery Ward where he met Helen Settle, and they married on February 6, 1948. He had various jobs working in the oil fields in Midland and Snyder. He then returned to Hondo Air Force base as a civilian instructor, where he continued training military pilots to fly. Following that, he took a job with Camp Oil Company and moved to San Antonio. While at Camp, he was an office manager and accountant until his retirement. He always said that Camp Oil Company took him in and treated him like one of the family. After he retired, he and Helen moved from San Antonio to Lake Kiowa before eventually moving to Rosston to live on the Settle family farm.

Clifford is survived by his sister Ernestine Largent of Grandbury; brother and sister-in-law Dalton and Glenda Haines of Lubbock; daughter and son-in-law Gerri and Chuck Bardo of Tulsa,OK; daughter and son-in-law Vivian and Harry Littleton of Sweetwater; and daughter and son-in-law Lori Jean and Trey Hidy of New Braufels. He is also survived by six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, four nieces, two nephews, seven great nephews, and three great nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen; and a son-in-law Mike Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Whaley United Methodist Church or a charity of choice.