James “Jim” Clayton, 79, a proud lifelong resident of Red Bank, passed away peacefully Sept. 12, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Jim shared 53 years of marriage with his wife, Ellen. Together, they built a life with their daughters, Jennifer Belcuore and Kristine Clayton-Kuhlthau, and their husbands, Chris Belcuore and Warren Kuhlthau.
Jim proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968. On March 1, 1970, he joined the Red Bank Police Department. He worked his way through the ranks and ultimately served as chief for eight years before retiring in 2003. He took great pride in serving the town where he had spent his life.
Jim and Ellen could often be found patrolling Red Bank, making their rounds through town and stopping at Marine Park to watch the sunset. Jim always had the trendiest sneakers and a new pair of sunglasses for his daily trips to the beach, where he enjoyed working on his tan. You could often find him mowing the lawn and caring for his beautifully manicured yard, where he proudly flew the American flag. He loved nothing more than sitting outside, watching the cars go by.
Jim was a proud Poppop to his 10 grandchildren, Victoria, Savannah, Lauren, Christine, Beau, Charlotte, Julia, James, Jeffrey and Kristian, who absolutely adored him. Some of their favorite memories with him were the simple, funny moments they shared together. He loved being silly, singing and dancing to his favorite country and doo wop tunes, and would never pass up a beach ball volley from his recliner. He was a familiar face at their sporting events and made even the most ordinary outings memorable. He had a special bond with each of them.
Jim was a true gentleman and a genuinely sweet man. He was a man of few words, but his quiet sense of humor and quick wit always made his family laugh. He was calm, loyal, tough, and never one to complain.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Jim is also survived by three brothers, George, Billy and Robert. He treasured his special relationship with his niece and nephew, Susan Frankino and Brud Pomphrey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Florence Clayton (Sagurton), and his siblings, Harry, Georgiana, Marie and Nancy.
The family would like to thank Jim’s caregiver, Tina, for the care, kindness and compassion she showed him each day.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at St. James Church, 94 Broad St., Red Bank. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jim’s memory to the Red Bank PBA, 90 Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ 07701, or Little Silver EMS, 480 Prospect Ave., Little Silver, NJ 07739.
The article originally appeared in the September 17 – 23, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
