Frank Walter Clark, 90, entered the doorway to eternal life on Friday, July 30, peacefully from his home of six years in Manteca, CA. He goes to prepare a place for his sweetheart of nearly 70 years, Agnes “Nettie” Clark. He is also survived by his brother Harold Clark (Arnell), his sons Frank Wesley Clark, and Harold Lawrence Clark (Lynn), daughter Penelope Anne Jones (Bob), and also 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was born January 26, 1920 in San Francisco where he grew up and met Nettie at Balboa High School. They eloped and got married in Minden, NV., on Dec. 1, 1940.
He was a lifelong patriot. He served during World War II, being drafted in 1943 as a young husband and father of 2 but was injured in an accident while preparing to go overseas. He loved to participate in parades in his red, white and blue, star and flag painted, ‘60s Chevy Van. He was one of the forty WWII veterans honored as “Grand Marshals” in Manteca’s Memorial Day Parade this year. He supported many charitable veterans’ organizations and was a member of the American Legion Post in Santa Rosa, CA.
He was 18 when his parents purchased property in Redwood City, CA, and put him in charge of building their house. By 25 he was a foreman for Henry Doelger who built most of the homes in the Sunset District of San Francisco and all of “Westlake” in Daly City. But he was more than just a carpenter, he was a “craftsman” doing many beautiful upgrades and remodels to his homes and helping many of his family, friends and neighbors with their homes and projects. He also taught carpentry for many years at night school and later trained young men in the Job Corps.
The Clark family lived in Marin County for 18 years where he owned his own construction company before retiring to Sonoma Co. in 1976 where they purchased their 2-plus acre “farm” near Kenwood, CA, where he not only did more building and remodeling but loved to grow fruit and vegetables which he and Nettie canned for many years.
He also loved fishing and boating. In 1954-55 he built a 21-foot Chris Craft kit boat in the garage of their home in the Sunset District of San Francisco. The family spent many years on the waters of the bay fishing and exploring from their berth in Marin County. He also lead the family on many camping and fishing expeditions to the “boonies” of California, even to places where he had to build their own outhouse at times.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He not only showed his love of God and Jesus by serving in many “callings” but also loved to sing in the choir and perform in plays and pageants often directed by his wife Nettie. He “wow-ed” many when he roller skated on stage in a church talent show when he was in his 70s!
In 2004 after moving to Manteca he began writing about his memories of growing up in San Francisco, stories his parents told him about the 1906 quake, many other interesting episodes and his love of God and Jesus. This was compiled into “Grandpa’s Story” and copies given to family and friends when he celebrated his 90th Birthday in January.
He will be missed by not only his immediate and extended family but also his “Ward Families” in Santa Rosa and Manteca where he was always a colorful addition to activities and meetings.
Memorial services will be Wednesday, Aug. 4, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6060 Northland Road., Manteca, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for visitation and 11 a.m. for memorial services. There will also be a graveside service Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11:30 a.m. at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave., Santa Rosa, CA . Arrangements are being handled by Park View Cemetery & Funeral Home, 3661 E. French Camp Road, Manteca.
Please consider plants rather than flowers or memorial contributions to one of the following: Habitat for Humanity, L.D.S. Humanitarian Services, or Hospice of San Joaquin.
He was born January 26, 1920 in San Francisco where he grew up and met Nettie at Balboa High School. They eloped and got married in Minden, NV., on Dec. 1, 1940.
He was a lifelong patriot. He served during World War II, being drafted in 1943 as a young husband and father of 2 but was injured in an accident while preparing to go overseas. He loved to participate in parades in his red, white and blue, star and flag painted, ‘60s Chevy Van. He was one of the forty WWII veterans honored as “Grand Marshals” in Manteca’s Memorial Day Parade this year. He supported many charitable veterans’ organizations and was a member of the American Legion Post in Santa Rosa, CA.
He was 18 when his parents purchased property in Redwood City, CA, and put him in charge of building their house. By 25 he was a foreman for Henry Doelger who built most of the homes in the Sunset District of San Francisco and all of “Westlake” in Daly City. But he was more than just a carpenter, he was a “craftsman” doing many beautiful upgrades and remodels to his homes and helping many of his family, friends and neighbors with their homes and projects. He also taught carpentry for many years at night school and later trained young men in the Job Corps.
The Clark family lived in Marin County for 18 years where he owned his own construction company before retiring to Sonoma Co. in 1976 where they purchased their 2-plus acre “farm” near Kenwood, CA, where he not only did more building and remodeling but loved to grow fruit and vegetables which he and Nettie canned for many years.
He also loved fishing and boating. In 1954-55 he built a 21-foot Chris Craft kit boat in the garage of their home in the Sunset District of San Francisco. The family spent many years on the waters of the bay fishing and exploring from their berth in Marin County. He also lead the family on many camping and fishing expeditions to the “boonies” of California, even to places where he had to build their own outhouse at times.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He not only showed his love of God and Jesus by serving in many “callings” but also loved to sing in the choir and perform in plays and pageants often directed by his wife Nettie. He “wow-ed” many when he roller skated on stage in a church talent show when he was in his 70s!
In 2004 after moving to Manteca he began writing about his memories of growing up in San Francisco, stories his parents told him about the 1906 quake, many other interesting episodes and his love of God and Jesus. This was compiled into “Grandpa’s Story” and copies given to family and friends when he celebrated his 90th Birthday in January.
He will be missed by not only his immediate and extended family but also his “Ward Families” in Santa Rosa and Manteca where he was always a colorful addition to activities and meetings.
Memorial services will be Wednesday, Aug. 4, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6060 Northland Road., Manteca, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for visitation and 11 a.m. for memorial services. There will also be a graveside service Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11:30 a.m. at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave., Santa Rosa, CA . Arrangements are being handled by Park View Cemetery & Funeral Home, 3661 E. French Camp Road, Manteca.
Please consider plants rather than flowers or memorial contributions to one of the following: Habitat for Humanity, L.D.S. Humanitarian Services, or Hospice of San Joaquin.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010
Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010
