John William Clark

John William Clark, a WWII veteran, passed away in his sleep at his home in Clarksville, TN, on February 5, 2013. He was 94 years old.
He was born in 1918 at Tobacco Port, TN, one of three children of Bertha and Ed Clark, and grew up on a farm.
As a young man, he joined the Army National Guard, and, when his unit was nationalized during WWII, he fought in the Pacific. His unit called themselves the Avengers of Bataan. He was wounded in combat in the Philippines and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After victory and demobilization, he returned to Hopkinsville which he had always considered his hometown. However, civilian life soon paled, and he once again joined the military, this time in the newly established armed service called the US Air Force.
During the war, in 1942, he had married the former Ola Mae Wiggleton who worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" while he fought for his country in combat. They traveled the world together during his Air Force career as a weather observer. They retired to Clarksville where they spent the remainder of their 70 years together until her recent death in November.
After he retired from the Air Force, he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers as part of a surveying party at Reelfoot Lake and up and down the Mississippi River.
When he retired from that, he took courses at Austin Peay, where it was joked that he was the only man anyone knew who could earn an "A" by digging a hole. He also went volksmarching, volunteered with his church at the Soup Kitchen, participated in the Senior Games in which he always medaled, fished at his favorite spot in the world, Port Royal, where his wife's parents had lived, and beautified his home through various projects, including poking sticks in the ground which then grew into beautiful trees. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his daughter Carolyn, son-in-law Todd, several nieces and nephews, and good friends.
On Valentine's Day, he will join his beloved wife in their final resting place at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West. Full military honors will be rendered. Prior to committal, a Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 14, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 13 at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Arrangements are in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, (931)647-3371. Online condolences may be made at NaveFuneralHomes.com.