Clair Edward Compton; Inventor

Clair Edward Compton, a Simi Valley resident who had invented a patented bolt clip used in aircraft manufacturing, died Monday at the age of 57.

Compton, described by family and co-workers as a man with a passion for working and inventing, died of a heart attack at his office at Mercury Aerospace in Chatsworth, according to his daughter-in-law, Loretta Compton.

Born and raised in Blairsville, Pa., Compton and his wife, Norma, moved to Los Angeles in 1965.

He earned an associate degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and was later certified by the state as a quality assurance engineer.

In 1969, Compton began a 23-year career with Voi-Shan Corp., a Chatsworth manufacturer of aircraft parts that is now a division of Fairchild Industries.

Compton worked mainly in researching and developing fasteners that hold together aircraft engines and frames, co-workers said.

“He was always looking for the impossible task and trying to get it done anyway, strictly 100% for his work,” said John Nicolle, a manufacturing engineer who worked with Compton at Voi-Shan.

In the course of his work, Compton invented and patented an engine clip bolt that is used in assembling and taking apart aircraft engines, Nicolle said.

Compton retired from Voi-Shan last year, Nicolle said. But “he started working part time at Mercury because he couldn’t stay away from the aircraft fastener industry,” he said.

Compton began consulting for Mercury several months ago and became a full-time employee six weeks ago, said Val Trono, facility manager at Mercury.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; two sons, David Edward and Kenneth Allen Compton, and four grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Simi Valley.