Clifton was born in Wichita, Kansas on September 10th, 1930 to Clifton Clinton Jennings and Lola Maude Caudle Jennings and was raised in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He graduated from Okmulgee High School and went on to achieve a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1954. In that same year, he began his service as a lieutenant in the US Air Force and in June, married his high school sweetheart, Ruth "Louise" Noble. He completed his term of service in the USAF in 1956 and went to work for DuPont in Texas and West Virginia.

Specializing in process measurement and control systems, Clifton joined Taylor Instrument Companies and returned to Oklahoma to live in Tulsa. In Tulsa he became the District Manager of Taylor's sales and service operations for the South West.

Clifton stayed very active upon retirement, spending time with Vo-Tech schools to train and motivate others in technical and engineering endeavors. He became a tax and financial advisor by volunteering for many years with the Internal Revenue Service through Tax-Aide to assist others in preparing and understanding their income taxes.

Clifton enjoyed tennis, golf, genealogy, duplicate bridge, poker and working on his 1952 MGTD. Clifton was the treasurer for the Orphan Train Society as he was a descendant of an Orphan Train rider (his Father). He was always a big fan of his Oklahoma Sooners.

Clifton is survived by his son, Steven Jennings (Cindy) from Tulsa; Marilyn Been (Steven) from Owasso; his sister-in-law Valene Jennings from St. Charles, Missouri; his nephew Brian Jennings (Missy Qualls) from St. Louis, Missouri; his niece Kerry S. Walker (Shawn) from Hannibal, Missouri; and his niece Melanie S. Dickey from Tulsa.

Louise preceded Clifton to Heaven in March 2011 as well as his brother, Roscoe Kerry Jennings in 2001.

Right to the end (April 10th, 2025), Clifton was grateful for each day and continued to look forward to tomorrow. He has finished the race and kept the faith (1Cor 9:24). Clifton will be honored as a faithful servant for the Lord in Heaven.