John Russell Clark JR's Obituary
John Russell Clark, Jr. was born August 20, 1933, in Baltimore Maryland and passed away November 11, 2024, in Southlake, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Auger Clark and father, John “Russ” Clark, his wife Barbara Alford Clark, and daughter, Cynthia Clark Stockley.
John is survived by his 2 sisters: Dotti Kemp and her husband Allan, and Mary Ryder. His 3 children: Lori and husband Paul Preston, Ben Clark, Kyle Clark, Son-in-law, Ed Stockley. Grandchildren Noah Preston, Lu Preston, Alex Clark, Sydney Clark, Eric Stockley and his wife Lizzie and first great grandchild, Reagan Cynthia Stockley.
John lived according to the motto, “you show up.” You show up for your family (whether Texas or New England!), for your community, for your friends, for TCU (since 1956), the Dallas Cowboys, and your church. He went from being a basketball star at Hillcrest High School in Dallas to helping start the first SAE fraternity chapter at TCU. We loved his stories of organizing TCU’s Howdy week and rooming with Bob, the TCU Mascot. Those 2 just recently stopped going to the TCU football games!
He spent his entire corporate career in Telecommunications, first with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and AT&T spending a lot of time in Washington D.C. during the divestiture of AT&T. He played critical roles in the Telephone Pioneers of America with several jaunts in a Santa suit for Goodwill trips abroad.
He, his wife Barbara, and his circle of friends stayed focused on building community. He served on the Methodist Hospitals Board, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board, the Dallas Community College Foundation Board, the Trinity Corridor Development Committee for Dallas, Chairman of the Senior PGA Golf Tour in Dallas, Texas and as the Executive Director of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce for over 5 years. We are a better community because of his tireless efforts. He even played a role in bringing 911 emergency number to life.
As busy as that was, none of it got in the way of coaching his kids’ sports teams, traveling with Barbara and creating more stories with his golf buddies. He cherished bringing family together, from everyday dinners to weekend BBQ’s, to annual ski pilgrimages to the Ptarmigan Inn at Steamboat Springs, CO. and Angel Fire, NM, and many trips to Marriott timeshare bringing along friends and family! He also loved free rooms and trips to Las Vegas to play blackjack while Barbara played the one arm bandits (shhhh).
He lived for the stories he could tell because while all of this work and volunteerism might eliminate fun and family, he never did it without his family and friends at his side with a lot of celebration and fun.
What fun we had. We know the party has moved to Heaven. We will see you soon. And as you always said in the face of adversity “Egads. Oh well.” Dad, you won.
Service will be held on December 5, 2024, at 2 pm at Restland 13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas. Internment follows the service.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Association, in honor of his daughter Cyndy Stockley.
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=929127
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?
