Wayne Howard Clifford

Wayne Howard Clifford born 12 February 1944 passed away on 07 November 2025 at the age of 81 in Burleson TX where he resided with his wife Julie. Wayne suffered for years with multiple diseases, but the addition of a hip break proved to be too difficult to overcome. Wayne was born in Flint, Michigan to Howard and Geneva Clifford. He graduated valedictorian from Beecher HS in 1962 and went on to Michigan State University earning a BS in Food Science, and a MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering. During his college days he had several jobs related to his education. A couple summers he hitchhiked from East Lansing to Chicago to work for Quaker Oats. But he loved MSU and was asked to join the staff at the School of Packaging in the early 70’s. After a few years he was recruited to establish a state of the art transportation testing laboratory at General Mills in Minneapolis MN. He moved to Minneapolis, MN and while working for General Mills he met his wife Julie. They were married in March 1983.
Besides Michigan State University he also taught at University of Minnesota, Wayne State University, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and Northstar School. He loved learning and sharing his passion for science and math topics.
Wayne also had a couple more encounters with industry working for Alcoa in Newburgh, Indiana, and Alcon Laboratories in Fort Worth, TX. He retired from Alcon in 2003.
Wayne loved music and he played the flute, piccolo and piano. He competed throughout his primary and secondary school years winning numerous medals with his band or small ensemble or as a soloist. He was the drum major for his HS marching band his senior year. He sang in church choirs throughout his life and continued until he could no longer manage the requirements of reading and keeping up with the music in 2023. .
He loved to run and competed in several marathon races wherever he lived. He always wanted to run Boston but the closest he got was 3:12. He continued to run until about 2018 when cardiac issues along with a Parkinsonian condition limited his mobility and coordination.
A service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held at Arlington Heights UMC located at 4200 Camp Bowie in Fort Worth at 3:00pm on 29 November 2025. In lieu of flowers the family asks you to consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s foundation or a charity of your choice.
Wayne is survived by his wife Julie and their three children, Timothy Clifford (Katie) and twin girls Abigail Clifford and Sarah Clifford. Wayne also had four daughters from a previous marriage, Andrea Crain (Steve), Elizabeth Clifford (James), Laura Clifford-Podolsky, and Nicole Wells. He is also survived by grandchildren Brittany Clifford(Steven), Katrina Villegas (Lorenzo), Jennifer and Aileen Crain, Joseph Jewett, Jonathan Clifford, Katherine and Benjamin Podolsky, Alex Mark and Kenzi Bishay. His survivors also include two great grandchildren Kenlie Woods and Serenity Villegas.
Wayne was preceded in death by his sister, Joanne Harder, his parents, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.