Vice Admiral Edward W. CLEXTON Jr., USN (Ret),
Golden Eagle Emeritus
 

Gentlemen,
 
It is my sad duty to report that on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, Golden Eagle Emeritus VADM Edward W. CLEXTON Jr., USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia
 
Ed was born in Washington, D.C., November 14, 1937, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, alongside his five sisters. Ed’s father was VADM Edward William Clexton Sr. In January 1955 Ed signed on with the U.S. Navy as an Airman Recruit/Airman Apprentice with the NARTU on board NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C. In June of 1956 Ed entered the U.S. Naval Academy as a Midshipman. Ed graduated and was commissioned in June 1960, but not without having flown in a N3N Yellow Peril, T-34 Mentor at NAS Pensacola and Navy blimps at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey. Ed’s next duty assignment was at VT-1 flying the T-34 at NAS Saufley Field, Florida. Complete with that training Ed transitioned to VT-4 in October 1960 flying the T2J Buckeye. In July 1961 Ed transferred to VT-22 flying the F9F8 Panther and then in VT-23 flying the F-11F Tiger. Initial training complete and wearing his Wings of Gold, Ed received orders to VA-126 in December 1961 for instrument flight training. Instrument certification in hand Ed received orders to VF-121 for initial training and qualification in the F-4H1 Phantom II at NAS Miramar, California.
 
With his F-4 Phantom II qualification Ed was ordered to VF-53 at NAS Miramar, California. This was followed shortly thereafter with orders to VF-143 and deployment on board USS Constellation (CVA 64). These two assignments lasted nearly three years and ended in May 1965. Ed accumulated 10 combat missions during this combat tour.
 
In June 1965 Ed received orders to the U.S. Naval Test Pilots School in NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. During his course of study Ed was able to fly the T-1A Seastar, F-8 Crusader, T-28 Trojan, A-4 Skyhawk, F-6 Hellcat, T-39 Saberliner, S-2 Tracker, B-26 Marauder, HU-16 Albatross, OV-1 Mohawk, H-34 Seahorse and UH-1 Iroquois. In March 1966 Ed was ordered to the Flight Test Division/Flying Qualities & Performance Branch at the Naval Air Test Center. There he flew the F-4, F-8, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, A-4, P-3 Orion, T-37 Tweet, B-26, U1-B, C-54 Skymaster and O-1C Birddog.
 
Upon completion of those tours Ed headed back to the fleet with an assignment to VF-126 for instrument certification and VF-121 to requalify in the F-4 Phantom II. Qualifications in hand Ed was ordered to VF-114 flying the F-4 out of NAS Miramar followed by two combat deployments on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Ed accumulated an additional 190 combat missions in Vietnam during this tour. He was awarded 12 Air Medals and 2 Navy Commendation Medals w/ Combat “V.”
 
In April 1971 Ed was selected for command and was transferred to VF-102 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, as Executive Officer. He took command in 1972 and was deployed on board USS Independence (CV 62). At the end of his command tour Ed was selected for Nuclear Power School and attended for the next year. With his nuclear qualification and certification in hand Ed was ordered to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) PreComm unit as Executive Officer in 1976. Having spent two years as XO, Ed was selected and assigned as Commanding Officer of USS El Paso (LKA 117). With only 12 months on board Ed was selected for and ordered to the Department of State, Executive Seminar on National/International Relations program which ended in March 1981.
 
In June 1981 then-Captain CLEXTON was selected for and ordered to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as Commanding Officer. During this tour Ed and those under his leadership were involved in the Libyan and Lebanese crises. Of note, during this tour Ed was selected for Flag rank and promoted to Commodore. In 1984 and with his promotion and three years on board, Ed had to relinquish command and was ordered to the Pentagon and the Navy Staff as OP-64, Director of Naval Command Center. On the Navy staff for two years Ed was released in 1986 and was selected and assigned as Commander, Carrier Group Three at NAS Alameda, California. Ed spent two years as Commander and had USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as well as the associated carrier air wings under his charge. This operational tour came to an end in late 1988 when Ed was reassigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Operations Officer and subsequently Deputy CINC in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
In 1991 Rear Admiral CLEXTON was promoted to Vice Admiral and assigned as Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe in London, England. This most enjoyable tour ended in 1993 with Ed’s retirement from active duty.
 
Following his retirement, Ed began a second career with Price Waterhouse in New York City. Upon leaving Price Waterhouse he and Catherine relocated and settled in Virginia Beach.

Ed was preceded in death by his mother Zita; his father VADM Edward William Clexton and his sisters, Zita, Judy, Mary and Catherine.
 
He is survived by his beloved wife Catherine of 40 years; his sister, Nancy Harlow; his children, Eric Clexton, Zita Fisher (Steve), Edward Clexton III, Lisa Schiederer (Mike), and David Clexton (Sandi); his stepchildren, Diane Pyle (Allen), Mark Inderlied (Kris), and Matthew Inderlied (Stephanie); and 16 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
 
A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 5345 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
 
He will be missed.
 
In Sadness,
Matt MOFFIT
Pilot