Clarence Ronald Polfer, age 80 of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away
August 5, 2014. Ron was born December 9, 1933 in
Kansas City, Missouri to parents Clarence Polfer and Audrey Baldwin
Polfer. He was united in marriage to Veda Shaw on
June 16, 1956 in Albion, Illinois.
Ron was commissioned an Ensign in the
U.S. Navy through the Navy ROTC Program
at the Illinois Institute of Technology on June 8, 1956, and then
completed flight training, earning his designation as a
Naval Aviator on May 2, 1958. He deployed many times in his career,
including four deployments to Southeast Asia.
It was during his fourth deployment on May 7, 1972 that Ron was forced
to eject over North Vietnam and was taken
as a prisoner, finally being released after 326 days in captivity. He
continued to serve until retiring from the Navy on
November 1, 1979 at the rank of Captain.
His awards included the Purple
Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze
Star and Air Medal among others. Ron was a member of the Vietnam POW
Association, the American Legion, the
Red River Fighter Pilots Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled
American Veterans, the Military Officers
Association of America and the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In later
years, Ron enjoyed traveling with Veda and
they traveled far and wide in their RV. He also enjoyed spending time
with his family.
Ron was preceded in death
by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Veda Polfer of
Punta Gorda, Florida; two daughters, Sandra
Selling and husband Vern of Sunrise, Florida and Susan Grake and husband
Sam of Springfield, Virginia; grandsons,
Sam Paul Grake and Jared Selling; granddaughter, Brandi Grake and
sister, Judith Considine of Middletown, Maryland.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 13, 2014
at the Benton County Memorial Park
Funeral Home Chapel, 3800 W.Walnut, Rogers, Arkansas. Interment will
follow at Benton County Memorial Park,
with full military honors.
