Wednesday, February 13, 2013

John W. Clark (February 7, 2013)

John W. Clark, age 88, of Greenville, Ohio, passed away peacefully and went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 8:45 pm at the Brethren Retirement Community. He was born on April 12, 1924 in Greenville to the late John & Della (Devilbiss) Clark and grew up near Bear's Mill, outside Greenville.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Shari and Jeremiah Gallagher of Chipita Park, Colorado and grandchildren, April of Phoenix, Arizona and Micah of Los Angeles, California; son and daughter-in-law John Clark and Laurie Hudson of Avondale Estates (Atlanta), Georgia.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by Inez (Grote) Clark and brothers, Hubert, E.J., Nolan, Harold, Dwight and Blaine and sisters, Ruby Bright, Ruth Pierce, Welma Shepherd and Fayne Beichler.

John graduated from Greenville High School in 1942 and excelled in track and cross country. He was a member of the U.S. Navy Coast Guard during the Second World War (1944/45), serving aboard the USS Pueblo in the South Pacific. He was co-owner and operator (with brother-in-law Robert Olwine) of the Treaty City Coal Yard his entire working life. John was a farm boy at heart and also raised sheep for nearly 50 years.

He was at various times a member of the Greenville chapters of both the Lion's Club and the Elks Club and did volunteer work for the local YMCA. He was a member of the Darke County Oratorio Society and Darke County Barbershop Chorus. He used his wonderful tenor voice to the glory of the God who gave it to him as both a choir member and quartet member at the Second E.U.M Church in Greenville. He was an avid golfer, a rabid auto racing fan and enjoyed league bowling for a number of years

A memorial service will be held when the family gets together in April and will be announced at a later date. It is the wish of the family that memorial contributions be given to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences for the family may be sent to www.zecharbailey.com