Dr. Donald A. Gloff

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 4, 2023 at First Baptist Church, Clifton. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Clifton Cemetery. 

Dr. Donald Arthur Gloff, age 87, of Clifton, passed away peacefully on January 25th, 2023.

Don was born February 2nd, 1935 in Clifton, Texas to the late Robert Arthur and Irene Jeanes Gloff. At the age of 5, he told his mother he wanted to be a physician. He was a hard worker from a young age, holding many jobs such as delivering papers for the Waco Tribune-Herald, owning his own photography business (earning him the nickname “Flash”), working in road construction, and more to help fund his education. Don started off his scholastic accolades by graduating salutatorian from Clifton High School in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree cum laude from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, in 1961 with a Doctor of Medicine Degree in the top ten of his class. Don completed his internship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He finished his education at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he was a resident in general surgery. Don moved back to Clifton in June 1964 to be a part of Goodall-Witcher Clinic and Hospital where he later became a partner and practiced family medicine for 40 years. Don received many accolades throughout the years, but more importantly he left a legacy of a kind heart, a wise teacher, a trusted physician and a friend to many.

Don was also very grounded in his faith, and could be found on the family pew (next to last on the right side) every Sunday at First Baptist Church of Clifton. As a dedicated member, he served as a Deacon as well as serving on many committees. Don truly showed the love of Christ through his work as a physician, his caring nature as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and his servant heart by always lending a helping hand to those in need.

He loved his hometown and served the community through the roles of city councilman, charter member of the Clifton Chamber of Commerce, medical director of Lutheran Sunset Ministries for more than 30 years, City of Clifton health officer, board member of Interfirst Bank, Lions Club member of 50+ years and many, many more.

There was nothing more important to Don than his family. On January 27th, 1962 he married the love of his life, Joann Altenburg at the First Baptist Church of Liberty, Texas. Don and Joann had a loving marriage of 61 years and built a beautiful family together. They were blessed with two children, Gregory Stephen and Melanie Joann. In 1987, he gained two more children when Greg married Angela Bowden, and Melanie married Rodney Rueter. As their family continued to grow, Don enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in sports and play in the band, traveling to many games and contests over the years. He educated them on the rise and fall of the Dallas Cowboys, shared with them his love of travel and even inspired a few of them to join him in the medical field. Don also cherished playing and reading with his two great-grandchildren and was looking forward to the birth of his third great-grandchild this summer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Betty Hall. Survivors include his wife, Joann, son Greg Gloff and wife Angela of Clifton, daughter Melanie Rueter and husband Rodney of Clifton, brother-in-law Halbert Hall of Bryan, sister Doris Haggard and Paul of North Carolina, sister-in-law Jo Rene Altenburg of Huntsville, grandchildren Benjamin Gloff, Kayla Kloecker and husband Jared, Alexandra Vannatta and husband Dalton, Alyssa Rueter, Zachary Gloff and wife Savannah, great grand-children Jenntrie and Rhett Vannatta along with countless nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Clifton, Lutheran Sunset Ministries and Goodall-Witcher Hospital Foundation.

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