John Clark

"1929 - 2017"

Roanoke Rapids, NC, previously of Fletcher and Canton - John Edward Clark, 88, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017, at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh.

Born in Oswego, New York, John was the son of the late Elmer Patrick James and Ethel Belle Hewett Clark. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Elizabeth Medford Clark, who died in 2010, and his sister, Mary Clark Wilson.

John is survived by two daughters, Bettina Clark Hall and husband, Kevin, of Clover, South Carolina, and Lisa Clark Patterson and husband, Bob, of Roanoke Rapids; one son, Michael Patrick Clark and wife, Linda, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Hall Gravely and husband, Ross, of Gibsonville, Alyssa Hall Williams and husband, Travis, of Pineville, John Robert Patterson and wife, Nicha, of Alexandria, Virginia, Benjamin Clark Patterson, of Greenville, North Carolina, William Patrick Patterson, of Raleigh, Landon Patrick Clark and wife, Kayla, and Kelsie Clark Suggs and husband, Clint, all of Knoxville, Tennessee; and seven great-grandchildren, Phoebe and Shelby Gravely, baby girl Gravely, due April 2018, Davis and Haddie Grace Williams, and Jace and Lila Clark.

The entire family expresses sincere gratitude to their Dad's devoted caregiver, Felicia Harvey, of Roanoke Rapids.

John was a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Tarawa from 1947 to 1950. He attended NC State University on the GI Bill and later graduated from Western Carolina University with a BS degree in Engineering Technology. Early in his career, he worked as a construction project manager throughout the southeastern United States. In 1970, he began a career with the Federal government, first with the US Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. He then moved to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Region. He served as Chief Engineer at the Cherokee Reservation, Cherokee; the Choctaw Reservation, Mississippi; the Miccosukee Reservation, Florida; and a reservation near Bangor, Maine. John was well respected among his peers and received numerous awards and citations for his work in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

During John's federal career, he and Marilyn lived in San Antonio, Texas, and McLean, Virginia, before they retired in 1991 and moved back to Asheville. John completely renovated a home they purchased near Lake Powhatan. Later they moved to Biltmore Park and then settled in Fletcher. He enjoyed woodworking, building many creative things for family members. He enjoyed yard work and maintenance, planting many trees and flowering bushes at their homes. John and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, attending their grandchildren's college graduations and weddings, and family beach trips. About 4 years ago, John moved to Roanoke Rapids to live with Lisa and Bob. He enjoyed attending NC State football and basketball games. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Roanoke Rapids and enjoyed attending Sunday School and church services. John was an avid reader his entire life; he especially loved reading his Bible, and history, military, and espionage books.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, with the Reverend Randy Martin officiating.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 13, 2018, in the Chapel of Wells Funeral Home, Canton, with the Reverend Randy Martin officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Calvary Churchyard in Fletcher with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Community Garden, a mission outreach of Calvary Baptist Church, 1405 Bolling Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

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