John Dickens (Dick) Clithero, 84, a resident of Charlestown Retirement Community (formerly of Severna Park) died November 10. He was born in Seattle, Washington on August 15, 1926 to the late Russell L. and Gordon Marguerite Dickens Clithero. He grew up in the hotel business in Sitka, Alaska where his father owned and operated the Sitka Hotel. Because there were limited opportunities in Sitka, one of Dick's teachers, suggested he transfer to Severn School for Boys, a boarding prep school for the Naval Academy, located in in Severna Park, Maryland. Over the summer, Dick worked the docks in Sitka to save money for the tuition and later traveled unaccompanied from Alaska, (via a tramp steamer) across the United States by train to Maryland. It is ironic that while he traveled more than 4,000 miles alone, Severn School officials would not allow him to go by himself to Washington, D.C. to meet with the representative from the State of Alaska about an appointment to the Naval Academy.

He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1948, and then went to flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where he met and married the late Mary Louise Jones. After flight school, he earned a degree in meteorology from the Navy's post graduate school in Monterey, California, and was sent to Guam to fly with the Navy's typhoon hunters. He also received his degree in accounting from Benjamin Franklin University. Because tropical forecasting was one of his specialties, when he left the Navy for the U.S. Weather Bureau, the first tour of duty was Wake Island. Upon retirement from the Weather Bureau's Suitland, Maryland office he taught math in various high schools in Prince Georges County, and later at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Maryland. He ended his career as an auditor for the State of Maryland.

In addition to his family, his interests included sailing, reading, traveling, and crossword puzzles.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Clithero and a sister Jeanne Gottspooner. He leaves behind a sister, Gordon Dickens Beitzel, a daughter, Diane Jackins (Joe), a son, John (Delle), two grandchildren, a great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at Barranco's Funeral Home in Severna Park, Maryland on Thursday, November 18 from 2 - 4 PM and 6 - 8 PM. A service celebrating his life will be held at the Severna Park United Methodist Church on Friday, November 19 at 11 AM.