David D. Cliffton

On Saturday, January 21, 2023, David Dean Cliffton, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather passed away at the age of 93. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

David was born on December 15, 1929 in Deweese, NE to Lloyd & Blanche Cliffton. He joined the Army in 1951 as a mechanic. He was deployed to Korea. He was one of the thousands that were trapped at the Chosen Reservoir where he sustained nerve damage from the freezing temperatures. He left the army as a Corporal in 1953 after returning from Korea.

In 1973 David met Nancy Savary Dolbeare in Colorado Springs, CO. They were married on July 21, 1973. They moved to Deering, New Hampshire in 1982 and owned/operated a campground named Cliffton’s Country Camping for many years. They bought land in Dateland, AZ and snow birded there for a number of years before living there permanently.  Family brought he and Nancy home to New Hampshire in 2022.

He was a lifelong mechanic and loved making new things out of parts of old things. He put the Mac in MacGyver. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and rode across the country more than once. He loved to take his wife out dancing and singing Karaoke would bring a big smile to his face. They called him Diamond Dave.

He was pre-deceased by children Harwood (Woody) Dolbeare and Renee Dolbeare of NH. He is survived by his wife Nancy of 50 years and his children Bonnie Ann George of Missouri, Matt Cliffton of Arizona, Annette Dolbeare of New Hampshire, his grandchildren – Neena Darner, his devoted caregiver of NH, T’nette Shedenhelm of Florida, Anthony Lochmandy of Colorado, Tyrone Lochmandy, Janette Lochmandy and Rhett Darner, Jr. of New Hampshire, as well as several great-grandchildren.

Services will be held in Boscawen at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations be to Granite VNA at www.granitevna.org.