Edward Clarke's Obituary
Edward Lee Clarke, 74, of Dallas Texas, died on Friday June 26, 2015 surrounded by his family and close friends. Born in Richmond Virginia August 2, 1940 to William Benjamin and Myrtle Ray Hancock Clarke, Ed was 1958 graduate of John Marshall High School. He attended Virginia Military Institute on a football scholarship and George Washington University. Ed graduated from the Masters Program of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Ed was a Mason and a member of Arlington Centennial Globe Lodge N881. Ed is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rita Wells Clarke, his daughters Amanda Diane Clarke, Jessica Lenora Clarke McMillen and Georgia Lee Clarke Youngs as well as by his brother William Benjamin “Whitey” Clarke and wife Mary Lou. He was preceded in death by his youngest daughter Caroline Wells Clarke in 1979. Loved by his sons-in-law Bryan Coley, Steve McMillen and Lance Youngs, grandchildren Callahan Glabman, Sarah Clarke, Colin McMillen and Ruthie McMillen, step-grandchildren Rachel Coley and David Coley and many nieces and nephews. Ed was a consummate outdoorsman and tireless wildlife conservationist. He served on the Board of Directors of Delta Waterfowl from 2001 through 2011 and was named Vice Chairman in 2012. Ed was named a lifetime Honorary Director of Delta Waterfowl in 2014. Ed’s deep love and passion for Delta’s student research program led him to establish a Delta Waterfowl Scholarship. Ed was a life member of; Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association, North American Hunting Club, California Waterfowl Association and Dallas Safari Club. He was involved in the following State of Texas wildlife organizations; Texas Game Wardens Association, Texas Wild Turkey Federation, Quails Unlimited and Quail Coalition. As a salesman for Johnson Controls, Ed moved his family to Dallas in 1969. In the early 1970’s, he joined Packaged Systems Inc where he met his two future business partners. Together in the late ‘70’s they founded several companies that would eventually merge together to create Flow Design Inc in 1987, a company in which he would retire from in 2000. Ed was an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. He was the director of the church youth group, taught Sunday school, coached the softball team and established the first all-night men’s outdoor bar-b-que. Ed was vice president of the board for the Children’s Oncology Services of Texas, where he chaired fundraising and construction of the Dallas Ronald McDonald House and served as President in 1980. He took an active role in his daughters’ Camp Fire Girls groups and was an AAU swim meet official for the DISD and City of Richardson Swim Teams. He was the Chairman of the KERA Channel 13 Auction in 1984. Ed established an anonymous college scholarship for a local Hispanic congregation. He was a devoted fan and season ticket holder of the Texas Rangers Baseball Team as well as the Dallas Stars Hockey Team. Ed was known for his tall tales, corny jokes, table napkin tricks and his mischievous smile. He was a great dancer, a lover of music, Snickers bars and his favorite hunting dog, Bully. Ed could recite every line from his favorite movie Jean Sheppard’s “A Christmas Story”, and bore an uncanny likeness to it’s lead character Ralphie. A devoted and loyal friend, Ed was the pillar of his family. We will miss his sense of humor, his unwavering support and advice, his hugs and secrets in our ears. Goodbye Pop. We love and miss you dearly. A memorial service will be held Saturday July 11, 2015 at 11am at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX. 75238 at Restland Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House Dallas or Delta Waterfowl Foundation.
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