Francis Clark of Sleepy Hollow Road, a Word War II veteran and retired automobile salesman who’d been a Ridgefielder the last 43 years, died Thursday, Dec. 4. He was 96, and husband of Roberta Clark of Ridgefield for the last 74 years..
“Everybody that met him liked him,” said his son, Bob Clark of Madeline Drive. “He was a great guy — do anything for anybody.”
Born in Queens, New York, in July 13, 1918 to George and Augusta Clark, he grew up part of a family of 15 in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens
Mr. Clark served in World War II as a aerial photographer with the 15th Air Force, based in Italy.
He moved to Ridgefield from New Hyde Park, N.Y., in 1971.
Mr. Clark worked many years as an automobile salesman in New Rochelle, N.Y. and later worked in town at his son Bob’s business, Clark’s Auto Parts, on Route 7.
His son said Mr. Clark greatly enjoyed being a grandfather.
“His grand kids were what he loved to do,” he said.
He was a member of the Georgetown Lions Club and a been a volunteer at the Castle Point Veterans Hospital in Montrose, N.Y.
Besides his wife Roberta, Mr. Clark is survived by two sons and their families: Bob Clark and his wife, Joanne, of Madeline Drive, and Scott Clark and his wife, Victoria, of Ocala, Florida. His grandchildren include Douglas Clark of Ridgefield; Jamison Clark of St. Albans, Vt.; Ryan Clark and wife Rodica of Danbury; and Steven Clark and Christopher Clark, both of Danbury. He is also survived by a sister. Edith Hermann of Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
A memorial service is planned at the Ridgefield Baptist Church on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m.
The family requests that contributions in his memory be sent to the Georgetown Lions Club, PO Box 594, Georgetown CT, 06829.
The Bouton Funeral Home of Georgetown handled arrangements.