Obituary of William Arthur Clayton

If you would like to watch Bill's Mass via livestream, please click here.  This link will be active a few minutes before 10 am on Monday, February 8, 2021.

William Arthur Clayton, of Wharton, New Jersey, passed away surrounded by love and family on January 31, 2021.

Bill was born on July 18, 1949 in South Amboy, NJ to Harold S. Clayton and Peggy G. Clayton. Bill married his best friend, Ivonne, in 2001 and, through their marriage, they created and loved a large and blended family consisting of six children. Bill was an amazing husband and father, and dedicated his life to his wife and children. However, Bill’s greatest joy was his grandchildren, who always brought a smile to his face and who kept him on his toes. Bill approached his life with a calm and easygoing demeanor and yet somehow always managed to be the life of the party. He was a loyal friend and helped any one in need without complaint or reciprocal expectation.

Bill was a member of the Army and served in the Vietnam War. After he returned from his service, he put himself through college and obtained a degree from William Paterson University. Bill loved to golf, fish and play cards and even refused to forego his fishing trips with “the guys” when his health was failing. Bill spent the final days of his life with his favorite things: his family and the golf channel. He loved to swim and won swimming medals and trophies in high school in his younger years and in his later years, spent his time in the pool with his grandchildren tossing them 10 feet into the air into the deep end, much to their parents dismay.

Bill was the Director of IT for A&E Stores, Inc. from 1995 to 2015, where he primarily served in the role of systems programmer and a database administrator. Prior to his employment with A&E Stores, Inc. he worked for Ormond Shops, Inc. for 23 years, which is where he met his wife.

Bill is predeceased by his father, Harold S. Clayton. Bill is survived by his adoring wife, Ivonne (Martinez) Clayton, his very lucky children, Nadine Varga and her husband Robert, William Clayton and his wife Linh, Amy Dennis and her husband David, Robert Clayton and his wife Danielle, Tanya Reu-Narvaez and her husband Miguel, and Erika Marks and her husband Brandon; his mother, Peggy G. Clayton; his siblings, Robert L. Clayton, Cindy Pagano and her husband James, and Harold Steven Clayton and his wife Mary Ellen; and his loving and wild grandchildren Kaitlyn, Ian, Nicole, Lauren, Lillian, Kaylee, Jennifer, Alyssa, Jacob, Joshua, Connor, Lukas, Madelyn, Camila and Mauricio.

Family and friends are invited to join us in celebrating Bill’s life by visiting Norman Dean Funeral Home located at 16 Righter Avenue, Denville NJ 07834 on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 1-4 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church located at 15 Myers Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834. The mass will be livestreamed for anyone who cannot attend the church.

Please note that all services will be held in accordance with the regulations of the State of New Jersey, including mask mandates and capacity limits. Due to the pandemic, we are requesting that guests keep their visits brief to allow all guests the opportunity to pay their final respects to Bill.

In respect to Bill’s wishes, he will be privately cremated. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bill’s memory to the Gary Sinise Foundation to support veterans, first responders, and their families. www.garysinisefoundation.org.