Canfield, Clyde Raymond, T/5

TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE CLYDE RAYMOND CANFIELD WAS A FARMER BEFORE ENTERING THE SERVICE ON 23 NOVEMBER 1942. HE SERVED IN EUROPE WITH BATTERY "C" 978TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION FROM 7 MARCH 1944 TO 19 OCTOBER 1945. AFTER RETURNING TO THE STATES T/5 CANFIELD WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT FORT MEADE MARYLAND ON 3 NOVEMBER 1945.


Clyde Raymond Canfield, 85, a resident of the Bretz Community, Hambleton, loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, completed his journey and went home to be with the Lord on May 7, 2008, in Ruby Memorial Hospital at Morgantown. Death was attributed to a stroke.

Clyde was born Friday, May 19, 1922, at Kingmont, Marion County, a son of the late Lorenzo and Venus Auvil Canfield.

He bravely served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater. His tour of duty included service in five major battles of the war. He fought in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He earned recognition as a marksman, received the Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, American Theater Service Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon. During the war, Clyde carried one of his most treasured possessions, a picture of a girl from home he had never met. After a courtship through letters, he returned home and married Belva Pearl Coffman on Dec. 15, 1945, at Oakland, Md. After the war, he worked for Martin Marietta Corp. in Baltimore, Md., for 13 years. Then he returned home to open Tucker County Auto Repair and Sales in Bretz, which he operated for 21 years. He also drove a school bus for 10 years for the Tucker County Board of Education.

He is survived by his loving wife, Belva, of more than 62 years and their three children, Julia R. Canfield and, Jr. George, Marvin G. Canfield and Deanna, all of Parsons and Karen L. Canfield of Lesage; seven grandchildren, Joy R. Pharis and Tim of Belington, Paul R. Cassidy Jr. of Alabama, Steve George of Tennessee, Sarah Lee and Greg of Virginia, Jeremy Canfield of Washington, D.C., Angie Pase and Robert of Virginia and Colby and Carol Hedrick of Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Travis and Byron Pharis of Parsons and Sutton Pase of Virginia. Clyde also had some very special family members, “Kit” Burleson, Cindy and Carleigh Lewis, Clifford Canfield and Jim Canfield.

He is the last surviving member of his immediate family having been preceded in death by three brothers, Ernest, Charlie and Clarence Canfield; and three sisters, Anna Stevens, Rose Helmick and one infant.

He was loved by many friends whom he treated like family. A life lived as fully as his cannot be described in such a short article. The imprint he left on all of our hearts will always remain. He will be missed more than words can express.

The family will receive friends at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor on Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Alby Cunningham will officiate and interment will follow in Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons, where the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and the Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign War will conduct full military rites.