Ronald Clodt Obituary

Ronald Rae Clodt passed away peacefully with his children by his side on May 19, 2025 after a difficult battle following a severe back injury. He was 88 years old. He came into the world on April 6, 1937 in Lane, South Dakota, the 7th of 9 children born to Erich and Mildred Clodt. The family moved to Anaheim, California when he was a young boy. He grew up splitting his time between the family home in Anaheim and living with his oldest brother and sister in law, Bud and Mary Ann Clodt, first in South Dakota and then Inyokern, CA. He graduated from Burroughs High School in 1955.
He served his country honorably in the US Army in Frankfurt, Germany from 1959 to 1962. He worked as a heavy equipment operator and company armorer and spent much of his downtime exploring the area with his younger brother, Dennis, who was serving in Germany at the same time. Following his military service he returned to Inyokern to work as a heavy equipment operator for his brother's asphalt construction company, paving many of the original streets in the Searles and Indian Wells Valley. After marrying in 1964, he lived briefly in Paulina, Oregon running a road construction crew. He then returned to Inyokern and Clodt Construction before beginning an almost 26 year career at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, working as a heavy equipment operator with the Geothermal Utilization Division and advancing his career as a firing officer with the Ordinance Systems Department. He often traveled to Fort Greely, Alaska for gelled fuel cold weather testing as well as Adak, Alaska with the Geothermal Division. He enjoyed his work and had a close friendship with his boss, Dr. Carl Halsey. He retired in 1994.
In February, 1986 he married Iona "Sam" Clodt, and shortly thereafter started R&R Grading company with his brother, Bud, which remained in operation until 2004.
Ron loved his family deeply and was a devoted brother to his many siblings. He could be found almost every weekend spending time with his brother and best friend, Rich, at the Inyokern Trap Club and helping his sister in law, Mary Ann, with projects on her property. In his later years he took time every day to visit with Rich and see what he could do to help out at "the farm." He became quite a yard sale aficionado and spent every Friday hunting treasures throughout the valley and hosting his own large sales a few times each year. His hobby kept him very active and healthy right up until his final months.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Sam Clodt, his children, Darrin (Kellee) Clodt and Stacy (Rick) Bullard, 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild, brothers, Rich (Geri) Clodt and Dennis (Connie) Clodt, stepsons, Ronnie (Kum) Workman, David Workman, and Eric (Elizabeth) Van Sky, and more nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family than can be counted. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert "Bud" Clodt, sisters, Karen Roork, Marlene Mason, Donna McLeod, Marion "Boz" Hunsaker, and Betty Mullins, and his beloved sister in law, Mary Ann Clodt, who helped raise him.
He lived a long and fruitful life in service to his family and was simply the strongest ol' cowboy we ever did know. He was deeply loved and we will miss him terribly.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 31 at 11:00 am at the Elks Lodge, 201 E. Church Ave, Ridgecrest.
Holland & Lyons Mortuary FD 1184