John R. Clark's Obituary
John R. Clark, Jr., age 81, of Henlopen Acres, DE, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, November 29, 2006. He was born on June 11, 1925 in Washington, DC, son of the late John R. Clark and Susan Dawson Giddings Clark. He was a fourth generation Washingtonian and grew up in Bethesda, MD and later on the family farm in White Oak, MD.
White Oak Farm (the namesake of the exit on the Capital Beltway) was originally the home of Mr. Clark's paternal great-grandfather James Clark, a Scottish immigrant. James Clark, a botanist, helped found the National Botanical Gardens and traveled the world collecting samples of flora for the gardens. When White Oak Farm was sold, the State of Maryland transplanted many of the tree species to parks.
After graduating from Montgomery Blair High School, he served as an infantryman in the 94th Division of the U.S. 3rd Army in the Western Theatre during World War II. His primary role was as a scout in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany from August 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. At the end of the war, he helped transport freed prisoners of war during the Allied Occupation and was in Czechoslavakia when the Russians took over that country. Mr. Clark received two purple hearts and two good conduct medals during his military service. After the war, he attended George Washington University and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1950 with B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration.
His career in the chemical and aerospace industries spanned almost 30 years during which he graduated from the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School in 1968. He participated in many civic and professional associations, and served as President of the D.C. Council and National Vice President of the Navy League from 1978 to 1982. In 1984, he retired as Vice President of Bell Aerospace. Shortly thereafter he moved to the coast of Delaware, and served on the Board of Managers of Henlopen Acres, overseeing the reconstruction of the water production and distribution system and the town hall.
He was an avid golfer, enjoying his membership at Burning Tree Club in Bethesda. He also enjoyed hunting, horseback riding, gardening, painting, and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Claudia Hutchison Clark of Henlopen Acres, DE; his daughter, Cecelia Melesco and her husband, the Honorable David Melesco of Rocky Mount, VA; his son, John R. Clark III and his wife, Mary Boney Clark of Bethesda, MD; and nine grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, William G. Clark of Rehoboth Beach, DE and his wife Elizabeth.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2006, 3 PM, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 18 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE. An additional Memorial Service will be held at a later date in the Washington, DC area. Interment will be private at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Fairland, MD.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947 or to the Rehoboth Beach Fire and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 327, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Send online condolences to: [email protected]
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