DAGSBORO - Clayton Ervin Bender, age 87, of Dagsboro, formerly of Marydel and Phillipsburg, N.J., passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md. Mr. Bender was born in Wilson Boro, Pa., on June 25, 1924, son of the late John and Pearl (Ketchledge) Bender. Clayton retired from the military as a Tech Sergeant with 20 years of service. He served three years in the Navy and seventeen years in the United States Air Force, where he served in WWII, Korea and the beginning of Vietnam. He was stationed at various US Air Bases as well as bases in Adak Aleutian Isles, Morocco North Africa, Greenland, Germany and Misawa, Japan with many temporary assignments in other areas before retiring in 1965 and settling in Marydel. After his retirement from military service he then co-owned and owned several different businesses in the area. He was the former co-owner of Kent County Business Machines and C & M Office Equipment in Dover, and Accurate Office Machines in Elsmere. He also owned the Hobby Inn in Smyrna. Clayton was a lifetime member of the Air Force Sergeant's Association and an avid football fan. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Lis (Petersen) Bender; three children, Melody Pearl Bender of Dover and her companion, John Forbes Jr., John Thor Bender and his wife Liberty of Westminster, Md., and Russel Morris Bender and his companion Cindy Martin of Marydel; four grandchildren, Stacy Bender and Bryan Bender, all of Westminster, Md., and Jonathan and Tanner Bender of Marydel; and a sister, Pearl Jones of Palmetto, Fla. Services and burial will be held privately at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Clayton's name to your charity of choice. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com.