Clayton Champion

Clayton Benjamin Champion, age 93 of Galesburg, died under hospice care at his home on February 6, 2022. He was born on October 7, 1928, in Scotts, Michigan, the son of Flora (Simmons) and Mark Champion Sr. After Clayton graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, he served in the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division and trained as a paratrooper and as a boxer. On July 10, 1951, he was married to Alberta Knowles, and they shared 61 years together until her death in 2013. They successfully owned and operated Champion's Heating & Air Conditioning for 35 years, working side by side. Clayton enjoyed the outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, golfing, tending his garden, or playing a round of horseshoes with his friends. Clayton is survived by his children: Brenda (David) May, Christopher (Karyn) Champion, Julie (Denny) MacDonell-Ruiter, Linda (Randy) Dunithan, and Steven (Sandi) Champion, and "adopted" sons, Tom (Kathy) Truong and Hoang (Trang) Truong; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; his brothers and sisters: Willabelle Compton, Mark Champion, Jr., Sandra Wise, and several nieces and nephews; and the many friends of the kids that Clayton looked after as if they were his own. He was preceded in death by his wife Alberta, his parents, and his brothers and sisters: Harold, Ruth, Wilda, Mildred, Martha, Nancy, Sharon, Dwayne, and Elizabeth. Cremation has occurred and a life celebration memorial will take place at a later date. A private interment will take place at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park South. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Centrica Care Navigators. Please visit Clayton's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com