William F. Clarke

William F. Clarke Surrounded by his family, Bill passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10th at Chandler Hall, Newtown, Pa. Born in Philadelphia, August 11, 1922 to Raymond and Helen (Lentz), Pud, as he was affectionally known, grew up in the Holmesburg section where he was a member of St. Dominic's parish. He developed his passion for Football while playing alongside his brother for the Holmesburg Boys Club and honed his swimming skills by swimming in the local Quarry, which would later prove invaluable. After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. S/Sgt. Clarke was stationed in Rattlesden England as a Crew Chief and Top Turret Gunner on the B17 "Nobody's Darlin" where he flew 12 successful missions. Number 13 proved unlucky as his plane was shot down over Berlin on April 29, 1944. He spent a year in the infamous POW camp, Stalag 17, in Krems, Austria. In the late winter of 1945, during a forced march, he managed to slip away from his guard and into the frigid Inns River, he swam across, and met up with the Black Cats of Patton's 13th Armored Division. Armed only with his Philly grit & wit, he convinced them to abandon their mission and follow him back across the river and liberate 4500 fellow Airmen! After he was Honorably discharged, Pud married his childhood sweetheart, Mary (Pietrobono), and after a brief move to Long Beach, CA they returned East and settled in the new planned community known as Levittown and raised their family. As Levittown flourished in the 50s' & 60's, Clarke and his wife immersed themselves in the political fabric of the Democratic Party. Clarke continued his love affair with airplanes and worked first as an Xray Technician then moved onto the position of Weight & Balance Authority in the Quality Control department at McGuire Air Force Base, NJ for 32 years. Bill spent his retirement doing what he enjoyed most, traveling with his wife, tending his garden, bird watching and serving his fellow veterans. A longtime active member of both the Liberty Bell Chapter of the Ex-POWs and The 8th Air Force Historical Society, he also served as Service Officer and until recently, Commander of DAV Chapter #117, Levittown. Clarke was proceeded in death by his wife, his sons Steven and Robert, granddaughters Kelly, Kimberly and Melissa, brothers Raymond and Paul. He is survived by his son William & Michelle, grandsons Adam and Bill and great Granddaughter Graicyn of Thompsons Station, TN.; his daughter Sue & Glenn Curry of Newtown, PA.; and sisters Dorothy Andreassi and Helen Kemp, along with many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, from 7:00 until 9:00 pm at the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA. His committal service will be held on Thursday at 10:00 am precisely, at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Washington Crossing, Pa. In lieu of flowers friends are asked to send donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.