Francis J. Clifford | Personnel director, 85

Francis J. Clifford, 85 of West Chester, a retired personnel director, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Wednesday at Bryn Mawr Terrace.

Mr. Clifford grew up in Fairmount and graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School.

He served in the Army during World War II, landing in Normandy on Day Five of the D-Day invasion and later fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

After his discharge, Mr. Clifford earned a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in 1948. He then worked for accounting firms for two years and, when his father died, took over the family's businesses, a tavern and a limousine service in Germantown.

In 1953, Mr. Clifford married Marie Moran. They lived above the bar before moving to King of Prussia in 1957. Mr. Clifford sold the Germantown businesses in 1970 and became personnel director at Pennhurst State Hospital in Spring City, Pa. He retired as personnel director at Norristown State Hospital in 1995.

Mr. Clifford was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed socializing with his former high school classmates. An avid St. Joe's college basketball fan, he attended many Hawks games, his wife said, and was an Eagles season-ticket holder for many years. He loved to photograph family and friends at social events.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Clifford is survived by a son, John; daughters Marie Feiter, Joanne Bean, and Karen Guyer; and six grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11:30 a.m. today at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 1325 Boot Rd., West Chester, where friends may call after 10. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken.

Memorial donations may be made to the Jackson Laboratory in care of Diabetes Research, 610 Main St., Bar Harbor, Maine 04609.