Thomas Edward Clark

Thomas E. Clark

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Thomas Edward Clark was born in Dothan, Alabama on December 16, 1930. He was the son of JT Clark and Marge Ann Hurts. He was the third child in six which included: Moses (deceased) Martha Ann (deceased), Julia, James, and Alice. In 1949, he enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 19 and completed his first tour of duty in Japan, where he worked in supplies. Upon returning to Dothan for a short layover, he met the love of his life, Louise Gwendolyn Jackson (deceased 2013), on the corner of Oates Street and West Powell. They corresponded for several months and he asked to marry her via a mail proposal in 1950. When he returned from Japan, he and his wife had a daughter Desmond Luverne Clark in 1951 when he was stationed in Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska. In 1952, they had another daughter, Cheryl who died at childbirth. The family subsequently moved to Andrews Air Force Base, Washington DC in 1952 and was stationed there until 1956.

In 1957, the family moved to Morocco, Africa and for four years they were stationed at Sidi Slimane Air Force Base. They also visited Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, Tangier, Casablanca, Nouasseur, and the Azores. In 1961 when they returned from Africa, they had their third child, Anthony Duane Clark in Saginaw, Michigan while stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. From there the family moved to Plattsburgh, New York and was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB for another four years. During his tour in New York, Mr. Clark took the exam to become commissioned as a Warrant Officer and, from 1970-73, he did two tours in Vietnam and was injured. In 1974, he went to Thailand as a Race Relations Officer. Upon returning from Thailand, he was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, while his family lived in Dothan. He retired from the military in April 1976.

Mr. Clark enrolled in Troy University in 1977 and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelors in Social Sciences. He subsequently was hired at the Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center where he worked for 10 years and retired from that position.

Tom died from complications of diabetes, and Alzheimers Dementia. Tom has the following living relatives: his daughter, Desmond, his son, Anthony (Tony), his adopted daughter, Debbie Hazelton, his two sisters, Julia Miller, Alice French and his granddaughter, Shaquita Clark and two great granddaughters Arlee and Eden. Tom was proud to be a native Alabamian, as he truly loved his family and the City of Dothan. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and his easy way of helping and being. He was truly a cosmopolitan citizen and solider.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 2, 2018 at Saint. Columba Catholic Church with Father Gallagher officiating.

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