Clayton Watkins age 93 of Argyle, WI passed away Thursday, August 27, 2015 at Pleasant view Nursing home in Monroe, WI. He was born September 25, 1921 in Argyle the son of Clarence and Clara (Nelson) Watkins. Clayton graduated from Argyle High School in 1939 and began working at his uncles grocery store, Nelson's Mercantile in Argyle. In 1942 he was drafted into the U. S. Army, and as Clayton would say modestly, "They said they could never make a soldier out of me because I was too small so they sent me to school. Clayton was sent to Stanford University in California". There he was made part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP)".
The ASTP was an elite and difficult program, requiring an IQ of 115 (and later 120) compared to 110 for Officer Candidate School (Clayton was often asked by his nieces and nephews what his IQ was but he would never say). In seeing Clayton's capabilities he was later sent to Davis College where he was trained in signal transmissions. He was then reassigned to Camp Crowder, MO as a member of the Army Western Signal Corps where he studied Cryptography and by 1945 he was handling "Top Secret" correspondence. His group's expertise eventually brought them to a secret American compound in the newly formed nationalist capitol of Chungking in China where their job was to assist Chiang Kai-shek (leader of the nationalist party). Clayton and his group worked on a "Top Secret" instrument known by the code name "SIGABA". In March of 1946 Clayton was honorably discharged and returned to Argyle to work as a bookkeeper at Phillipson's Garage. However, in January of 1951 he was recalled during the Korean Conflict and was an instructor at Camp Carson Colorado in Signal Communications. In 1952 he was, after training enough people, able to return to Argyle. From 1957 to 1980 Clayton was Argyle's Postmaster.
Clayton was a lifelong member of the Argyle Lutheran Church. Clayton was a founding Board member of the Argyle Community Fund, past Commander of the Argyle American Legion Post # 251 and the Argyle Lodge #178 Free and Accepted Masons, one of the original seven owners of the "Norseman Supper Club" and Chairman of Woodlawn Cemetery Association for a number of years. Clayton will always be remembered as Argyle's local Historian and a quiet man with great intellect. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends.
Clayton is survived by one brother: Kermit (Phyllis) Watkins of Argyle; one sister: Sandy Rowedder of The Villiages, FL; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers and sisters: Raymond Watkins, Cora Anderson, Gladys Gordon, Robert Watkins, Ardis Larson, and Roberta Skattum.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at Argyle Lutheran Church (100 East Street, Argyle) with Rev. Rick Fry officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery where Military Graveside Rites will be accorded by the Argyle American Legion Post #251. A visitation will be held Monday, August 31, 2015 from 4:00 P.M. til 7:00 P.M. at the Erickson Funeral Home in Argyle. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
For those who prefer, memorials may be given to the Argyle Community Fund, PO Box 345, Argyle, WI 53504 or a charity of your choice.
Remember me with love and laughter, for that's how I'll remember you All. If you remember me with sorrow, then-Don't remember me at all. Clayton Watkins