Clinton Gantt's Obituary
On Father's Day, June 21, 2020, Clinton Lorance Gantt Sr. entered eternal life and was greeted by family, friends and the great physician and healer, Jesus the Christ. Clint, as he was called in Texas, or Larry, to many in his home state of Illinois, was born on March 13, 1924 in Venice, Illinois to Henry Clinton and Myra Potter Gantt. He was the fourth child of eight brothers and sisters. Clint enlisted in the US Navy on March 16, 1943 and served as a Sonarman, First Class, in Europe, Africa and the Middle East on the USS Bronstein destroyer escort. He once again served his country during the Korean War and was discharged June 19, 1952. It was with great joy that his family celebrated his committal service with military honors led by members of the US Navy and Father Richard Flores at DFW National Cemetery.
Clint and Ruth Caroline Riley met at a USO dance during WWII and they married on Christmas Eve, 1946 in Madison County, Illinois. To begin Clint's college education, the newlyweds moved to the west coast of the USA where their first child, Barbara, was born in Hawthorne, California.
When Clint was hired for his new job at RCA, they moved to New Jersey where Patricia and Larry Jr. were born in Elizabeth. Clint graduated from Rutgers University on the GI Bill while in New Jersey. They were not born in Texas but, the family moved to the Lone Star State as fast as they could in 1957 and settled in Richardson where Clint worked for Texas Instruments and he and Ruth raised their family.
On All Saints Day, 1996, Clint was baptized, confirmed and received his First Communion at Saint Rita Catholic Church in Fort Worth, with Father Richard Flores presiding. Clint immediately found a home at Saint Mark in Plano and joined the Knights of Columbus Council 6065 where he volunteered for 20 years as a publicist, photographer or whatever needed. He was most happy when with his family and fellow Knights. Dancing with Ruth, playing baseball, fixing Mustangs, growing anything and finding the newest gadgets were some of his favorite pastimes.
During his years at TI, Clint received his MBA at the University of North Texas, Denton, from which he was proud to say his son graduated as well.
Clint's last years were spent living with Ruth at Saint Joseph Retirement Village in Coppell. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ruth; daughters: Barbara Shropshire (Michael) and Patricia Munson (Randy); daughter-in-law, Pamela Patch Gantt; grandchildren, Curt Allday (Karen), Clint Allday (Leva), Claire Holt (David), Kara Allday, Anne Vanzant (Timberon), Bobby Gantt (Julia) and James Gantt; great grandchildren: Amelia Allday, Gabriel Vanzant, Jude Vanzant, Katherine Vanzant and Madeline Holt.
He is preceded in death by his beloved son, Larry Jr.; first grandchild, Katherine Shropshire and son-in-law, Douglas Allday.
A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum USS Slater, 1 Quay St., Albany, NY 12202
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