Obituary of Clayton Joseph Spade

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for Clayton Joseph Spade of 2705 Leaphart Rd., West Columbia. Mr. Spade, 88, died Monday, May 25, 2015, after an extended illness. Born in Rochester, N.Y., he was the son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Trombley Spade. Mr. Spade was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Rita Adele Denny Spade; and stepchildren Steven G. Spade, Thomas W. Spade and Katherine T. Niziolek. Surviving are his stepson, John David Spade (Sallie) of Columbia and Evelyn Adele Randolph (Tom) of Baton Rouge, La., 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A veteran of 32 years in the U.S. Navy, he served in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. In the Pacific, he served on LST's and other landing craft created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore. In the 1950's, he was stationed in Charleston aboard minesweepers and was a long-time member of the Mine Run Ten Association. He later served aboard sub-tenders and was at times stationed in Virginia, California, Washington and Hawaii. After retirement from naval service, he worked in facilities management for the General Services Administration in Columbia. Mr. Spade had three great loves in life: his wife, fishing and the U.S. Navy. For the past several years he was a resident of Agape Senior on Leaphart Road. The family wishes to extend their thanks for the heartfelt care he received at that facility as well as the ongoing spiritual guidance received from staff and visiting ministers.