DOVER - Ralph William "Bill" Clark, formerly of Wilmington and Harbeson, died on Aug. 19, 2011, at Westminster Village, Dover, at the age of 93. Born in Pittsburgh, March 8, 1918, he grew up in Oil City, Pa., and attended Carnegie Mellon graduating with a BS in Engineering in 1940. Bill enlisted in the army in 1941, attained the rank of Captain, survived the Battle of the Bulge, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He continued to serve his country in the Pennsylvania National Guard until 1951. He was married on Sept 1, 1941, to Mary Catherine Hughes. They shared 65 years of marriage before Mrs. Clark's death in 2006. After the war, Bill returned to Pittsburgh working while he earned an MS in lubrication engineering from University of Pittsburgh, awarded in 1952. Starting in 1951, Bill worked for the DuPont Co. as an engineer with expertise in machine lubrication, travelling to many of DuPont's worldwide locations. He retired as Consulting Engineer in 1981. A member of the American Society of Lubrication Engineers since 1951, he was awarded Fellow status in 1980. After retiring from DuPont in 1981, he volunteered for AARP in various capacities, becoming their Delaware State Director, 1989-1992. Throughout his life, Bill was an avid trumpet player, became a member of the Musicians Union in 1935, performed regularly, and fondly remembered the occasion when his band backed an unknown Frank Sinatra. Bill was a gentleman in the best sense of the word. He did not speak badly of anyone, and will be remembered for his generosity, engaging personality, sense of humor, and lively story telling ability. His happiest times were spent with family, friends, and cherished grandchildren "on the creek" at Pinewater Farms. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. Bill is survived by two daughters, M. Kathleen Gordon and her husband Donald A. Overton of Media, Pa., and Patricia Glanding-Clark of Pike Creek; his beloved grandchildren, Jeffrey A. Gordon and his wife Elizabeth Fleming Bennett Deluna of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kelly L. Glanding of Houston, Texas; and by great-grandson, Travis M. Bennett of Bradenton, Fla. A viewing will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 345 Bear-Christiana Rd., Rt. 7, Bear, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Later, at 1 p.m., interment will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. In lieu of flowers, checks made out to "DAFB Fisher House" should be sent to Candi Popper, 116 Purple Heart Dr., Dover AFB, DE 19901. These contributions assist the families of deceased service members when their remains are returned to Dover AFB. Letters of condolence may be sent, and a guestbook signed at
www.torbertfuneral.com.
