Logan County native Clifford R. “Kip” Cloud, of Columbus, a lawyer and former Franklin County Judge, died Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Claremont Retirement Village at the age of 88 after declining health over recent years.
Born on the family farm near DeGraff in Logan County on July 29, 1935, he was the son of Roger Cloud (1909-1988) and Llewellyn DeWeese Cloud (1904-1995).
Survivors include: his wife of 31 years, Teresa Fernández Blake Cloud (from Cartagena, Colombia); his son Christopher Cloud (Jenny Cloud) and four grandsons, Colin Cloud (14), Camden Cloud (12), Colson Cloud (10), and Corban Cloud (6) all of Columbus; and his stepson, Eric Blake (Jen Blake) and two step grandchildren, Julia Blake (16) and Warren Blake (15), all of Rye, NY. Clifford is also survived by his sister Sherrill Cloud (Gordon Ziemer) of Placitas, N.M. Clifford was predeceased by his second son, Kevin Cloud, who died in infancy in 1978.
A graduate of DeGraff High School, he attended: Ohio Wesleyan University for his bachelor’s degree; The Ohio State University Law School for his law degree; and the University of Minnesota for post-graduate work. He also was Assistant to the Dean, School of Public Administration & International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. Clifford had a life-long interest in reading and learning about many diverse subjects, and if he hadn’t been a lawyer, he would have been a teacher.
Clifford served in the U.S. Air Force in Europe in the early 1960s followed by teaching English in Paris, France at the Lycée de St. Cloud. Upon returning to the U.S., he served as Assistant Ohio Attorney General & Legal Counsel to the Ohio Youth Commission and to the Governor of Ohio. He practiced law in Columbus from the early 1970s through the 1990s while also being involved in management & financing roles in numerous political campaigns (including the statewide campaigns of his father, Roger Cloud).
In addition, he was a Member of the Columbus Civil Service Commission, Chairman of the Columbus Development Commission, and served as a Judge on the Franklin County Domestic Relations & Juvenile Court. While continuing to practice law into the early 2000s, he served as a Member of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.
While Clifford now rests in peace, his family and friends are left with a void in our hearts that is gradually being replaced with many fond memories of his extroverted personality and his overwhelming sense of humor. Clifford’s life on this earth did not pass by unnoticed, and we are grateful to have been a part of his life.
The family will celebrate Clifford’s life privately and invite you to do the same. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice In Memory of Clifford Cloud.