Claude D. Malone Jr. (Sonny), 84, died early Friday morning, Oct. 27, 2017.  He was the son of Claude D. Malone and Ressie Cearley. He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Mary M. Malone and his only daughter, Tami Malone Charles, grandson Ian Malone Charles, and son-in-law, Blair Charles.

Claude (Sonny) was born in Oxford, Miss. in 1932.  He graduated from Ole Miss in 1955 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He served as the City Clerk and Tax Collector in Oxford until 1962. He then proceeded to the University of Kansas to obtain his Master’s degree in Public Administration in 1966.  He served as Assistant City Manager of Englewood, Colo., City Manager of Springfield, Ore., and City Manager of Fairborn, Ohio. In 1976, Sonny, became the Montgomery County Administrator.  He was the administrator until 1988. During his time there, he served as President of NACA (National Association of County Administrators) from 1985-1986, state president for ICMA (International City Managers Association), and was a member of the Board of Directors for NACO (National Association of Counties).

In addition to his management career, he served 37 years with the United States Air Force.  He obtained Colonel status during his tenure, He worked as a Liaison and Recruitment Officer for the United States Air Force Academy. After retiring from Montgomery County, Sonny worked as an interim and recruitment consultant for various cities in the surrounding area. Claude was a fitness enthusiast and active participant in the First Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio.

Funeral services are Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Glen Waller officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to:  First Baptist Church of Dayton (Claude Malone Fund), 111 W.  Monument St. Dayton, Ohio 45402, Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue Dayton, Ohio 45420, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research 2215 Gateway Center Drive PO Box 1950 Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950 or the National Parkinson’s Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com.