Delbert retired in 1994 from Kaiser Aluminum after 36 years of employment and was a member of United Steel Workers #557, Ravenswood. He was a member of Old Kyger Freewill Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and deacon, a member of the Old Tyme Chorus, and French City Troublemakers at the Ariel Theater. He enjoyed playing the piano and guitar, singing and woodworking.
He was born April 18, 1934 in Carter County, Ky., son of the late Delbert E. Sr. and Grace Hampton Clay.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Karen Clay and from this union there are three children surviving, Jeannie (Gary) Saunders of Gallipolis, Ohio, Steve (Sandy) Clay of Racine and Danette (Juan) McCabe of Gallipolis.
He married Reba O’Brien Elkins of Rutland, Ohio on Aug. 12, 2006 and she survives. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Sally (BJ) Barnette, Bradley (Mallory) Clay, Brooke Clay, Krisha Sheets, Kim Hart and Seth Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Bailey Barnette and Bella Barnette; and three sisters, Louise Gentry and Avalene Prichard, both of Wurtland, Ky., and Beulah Williams of Virginia.
In addition to his parents and his first wife, Karen, Delbert is preceded in death by two sisters, Naomi Gillispie and Pauline Shaw; and one brother, Alvis Clay.
Services will be 1 p.m., Friday, May 1, at the Willis Funeral Home with Pastor Rick Bourne officiating. Burial will follow in Gravel Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Seth Johnson, Bradley Clay, Tommy Taylor, Gary Saunders, BJ Barnette and Juan McCabe. Honorary pallbearer will be Bob Sigman.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Delbert’s memory to Holzer Hospice, 100 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis, OH 45631.
Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.
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