CLEAR, Joseph F. "Bud", age 85, of Hamilton, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007 in Vitas Hospice in Fort Hamilton Hospital. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio on June 23, 1921, the son of Paul L. and Lillian (Arlinghaus) Clear. Mr. Clear was a 1939 graduate of Hamilton Catholic High School and a 1945 graduate of Ohio State University. On May 16, 1953, in Holy Name Church, Columbus, Ohio, he married the former Rita B. Byrne. He had worked as regional life sales manager, for Metropolitan Life insurance, for seventeen years, and later for Ohio Life Insurance, for nineteen years, retiring in 1984. He was a life long member of St. Veronica church, and later St. Julie Billiart Parish. A member of the B.P.O.E # 93, he also was a twenty year member of the Mercy Fairfield Cardiac Rehab group. Joe was known for his sense of humor, positive spirit, and firm hand shake.

Survivors include his wife Rita; three children, Maureen (Greg) Reimer, of Hamilton, Joseph F. (Joan) Clear II, of Liberty TWP, and James P. (Patti) Clear, of Fairfield TWP; eleven grandchildren, Jon, Katie, Michael, and Carole Ann Reimer, Matt, Shannon, Kelli, and Joe III Clear, James, Jana, and Jacob Clear; a sister, Betty (Gene) Pettit, of Columbus, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Grace Clear, of Fairfield.

Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Clear.

Prayers will be offered at 9:30 am Friday in the Zettler Funeral Home, 2646 Pleasant Ave., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am Friday in St. Julie Billiart Church. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 pm Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Mercy Fairfield Cardiac Rehab or the Southern Ohio Leukemia Society, 2300 Wall St., Suite H, Cincinnati, OH 45212. Online register book and private condolences at www.zettlerfuneralhome.com In the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years, (Abraham Lincoln).