Cecil Dale Clark, 91, of Greenville passed away peacefully at his home Thursday morning, July 16th. Mr. Clark was born on May 19, 1918 to Alfred Louis Clark and Tressie Danial (Plunkett) Ulmer Clark in the Jacobia community in Hunt County.
He was very devoted to his family and country. He served in the U. S. Army from 1940-1946 with the 167th Infantry Division in World War II. He saw battles in New Guinea and the Southern Philippines. He received the American Theater Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Metal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and 2 Bronze Arrowheads, Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Bronze Star, 1 Service Stripe, Victory Ribbon and 3 Overseas Service Bars. After returning home, he entered GI Mechanic Trade School. He married Maurine Lindsey on May 17, 1946 in Rockwall, TX and together they raised 3 sons and 1 daughter.
In the early 1950’s he was a custodian and bus driver for Greenville ISD under Mr. Flewharty. He owned and operated Clark’s Garage on North Johnson Street from 1958-1974 when he retired. During that time, he also enjoyed building race cars and sponsored several cars that would race every Saturday night at the Greenville Speedway and other area racetracks in the late 1960’s. He was also the Greenville Speedway track flagman for several years. After his retirement, Mr. Clark enjoyed traveling, camping and spending time with his family. Anyone who knew him knew he never met a stranger. He loved music and dancing, especially from the Big Band era.
Mr. Clark was a member of Salem Kinser United Methodist Church, lifetime member of both the IOOF Lodge 87 and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 81 in Greenville.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, sons and daughters-in-law Jim and Bess Clark of Quinlan, Robert Clark of Campbell, and Dennis Clark and Paula Oden of Royse City, daughter and son-in-law Kirk and Diann Hammack of Celeste. He was PaPaw to 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and thirteen half brothers and sisters.
Services will be held Sunday at 2:30 PM at Salem Kinser United Methodist Church under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Shaddox and Rev. Joel Arnold officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park in Greenville. Visitation will be Saturday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Wes Clark, Nathan Clark, Harris Hollingsworth, Andrew Thomas, Tommy Motyka, Aaron Cole, Clinton Landrith and Cole Fuller.
