H. Knox Clinton, Jr.

Hubert Knox Clinton, Jr. passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 27, 2022 surrounded by his wife and children in his Greensboro home after a decade long fight against multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that impairs the body’s ability to fight infection. He was 71.

Knox was born on May 18, 1951 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a son of the late Hubert Knox Clinton, Sr. and Lena Faye Clinton. He graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1970 and enlisted in the US Navy, commissioned as a Seaman and rising to the ranks of Senior Chief over the course of his service. In 1973 Knox met the love of his life, Cynthia Diane Smith, and they married the same year in Clifton Forge, Virginia.  Knox and Cindy started their family in Virginia Beach, Virginia and were blessed to make homes in Bermuda, Maine, Virginia, Indiana and North Carolina. 

Knox’s final deployment was on the USS Eisenhower, where he retired from the US Navy with full honors in 1993. After retirement, Knox completed a BS from Purdue University in 1995 and went on to have a full second career in the private sector, including contracting with the US Coast Guard on vessel security and continuing to serve his community through church, his grandsons’ Scouting adventures and volunteering at the North Carolina Zoo.

Knox was a patient and loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle.  He lived in faith and always wanted to do the right thing, encouraging those around him to do the same. More than anything, he was kind and generous and willing to help anyone that might need it.  Knox was involved in numerous clinical trials and even in his final days wanted to help others find better outcomes for their illness. He loved to dance. He was drawn to music, nature and loved to spend time outside, especially in his own back yard- where he loved to garden and grill for family and friends. Relationships that Knox made- from his formative years in Spartanburg, during the course of his 23 years of military service and into his retirement - endured for a lifetime.

Knox is survived by his adoring wife Cynthia; their children Amy Rebecca Clinton-Corbett (Kevin Charles Corbett) and Judson Matthew Clinton; grandchildren Nathaniel Joseph Corbett, Alexander Knox Corbett; Reed Elijah Clinton and Megan Elizabeth Corbett; his sister, Andrea Faye deLaski; his brothers, Joel Love Clinton (Alice Marie Clinton) and Bratton Madison Clinton; his nieces Heather Anne Atkins (Daniel Kurt Atkins) and Katherine Hope Gough (Michael Phillip Gough); his great-niece and nephews, Joshua Michael Schneider, Caleb Arthur Schneider, Grace Elizabeth Adkins and Asher Daniel Adkins; and large extended family including his sister-in-law Deborah Jean Davis (Donald Larry Davis), nephews Benjamin Matthew Davis (Jamie Lafluer Davis) and Seth Ogden Powers (Ying Fu Powers); and great-nephews Dylan Michael Davis, Aiden Joseph Davis, Blake Christopher Davis and Ethan Lee Powers.

 A graveside service and burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. The service will be officiated by Dr. William H. Smith. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Knox’s name to Beaumont UMC in Spartanburg, South Carolina, The Boys Home, 414 Boys Home Rd, Covington, VA 24426 or Memorial Baptist Church, 3455 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, Virginia 22207.

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