Robert Clifton

Robert L. “Bob” Clifton, 80 of Bluffton, passed away on Thursday evening, Dec. 25, 2025, at his residence.

Bob was born on April 2, 1945, in Muncie, Indiana, to Hershel and Elsie (Wright) Clifton. He graduated from Gray High School in Portland, Indiana, with the class of 1963. 

He was a lifelong farmer in Jay and Wells County for 61 years, retiring in 2023. He also worked at Morgan Packing for two seasons, Shellers Globe for two years, Westinghouse, Drop Forge, Steffen John Deere and Smith’s Garage & Trucking. 

Bob was known for telling jokes, gambling for fun and playing cards in his barn with neighbors, friends and his son, Mike. He was creative and always rigging together anything and everything to create something new.

On Dec. 10, 1965, Bob and Carolyn “Sue” (Cowan) Clifton were married in Portland, Indiana. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 10 of this year.

Survivors include his wife, Sue Clifton; and their three children, Mike (Ella) Clifton of Warren, Valerie (Shane) Harnish of Bluffton, and Amy (Deon) Steffen of Bluffton. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Brandon Clifton, Dacia Irelan, Chelsea (Jay) Buchan, Cody Smith, Chantel Smith, Devin Clifton, Landon Clifton, Olivia Pula, Morgan (Dillon) Myers and Levi Steffen; and 11 great-grandchildren, Calvin Buchan, Bailey Buchan, Brinnley Myers, Adrian Buchan, Leah Myers, Melanie Barr, Bradley Barr, Matthew Smith, Chloe Smith, Jaxson Smith and Alejandro Hernandez. Bob is also survived by his sister, Carol (Don) McQueary of Bluffton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hersel and Elsie Clifton; and his siblings, Richard “Dick” Clifton, Arita Jeannine Coats, Dorothy Marlene Schell and Patricia Clifton(stillborn).

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton, with Jeff Lemler officiating. Burial will follow at Stahl Cemetery south of Bluffton.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials be made in Bob’s memory to Grace & Mercy Transitional Housing and can be directed to the funeral home. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. 

Friends may share condolences with the family at thomarich.com.