Frank Carroll Clark

Frank graduated from Bel Air High School and joined the US Navy in 1943. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Longshaw DD559 in Seattle, Washington, as a fireman (boiler operator). He was a Plank Owner and Shellback on the ship fighting in the Asian Pacific Campaign of WWII. The USS Longshaw DD559 was awarded 4 medals and 9 Battle Stars for the many battles in which it was involved. The ship was sunk by shore batteries during the Battle of Okinawa on May 18, 1945. He was honorably discharged from the YP 250, US Navy in New London, Connecticut.

Frank worked assorted jobs in Harford County, MD before meeting his future wife, Mary. Four and one half months later they were married and moved to Northwest Indiana so he could enter a machinist apprenticeship there. He worked as a journeyman machinist for 20+ years and raised two children with Mary. They then moved to Garrett County, MD to live in the mountains and fresh air. He worked in hospital maintenance there, raising cows on their farm. Frank and Mary moved to a farm in Lima, Ohio to be closer to their children and grandchildren in Indiana and Ohio. Ten years later, they moved to Bluffton, Ohio, in a house on the back side of the Bluffton Golf Course. His favorite pastime there was watching the golfers tee off at the 13th tee and watching the birds at their feeders. After visiting their daughter in Florida for a winter, Frank and Mary decided to move there and live with her. He quickly got involved in their neighborhood activities, playing Uno and Bingo. Frank was the oldest participant in the Tai Chi class at age 90. Frank loved to walk the neighborhood and sit in the sun.

Frank started life as a Methodist but became a Lutheran in the late 1950's. He then helped to establish and joined two newly developed Lutheran churches . Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Carney, Maryland and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Highland, Indiana. He continued as a Lutheran for the rest of his life. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Sunday New Life group and Hilltoppers as well.

Frank was a 50 year member of the Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge #735 in Griffith, Indiana and Oakland Lodge #192 in Oakland, Maryland. He was also a 50 year member of the Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, Valley of South Bend. He was a Past Patron of Oakland Chapter #67 of Eastern Star. He was a life member of the American Legion, serving as the chaplain of the Bluffton, Ohio Post 382. He was also a life member of VFW Post 1275 in Lima, Ohio. As a Tin Can Sailor, he was a life member of Tin Can Sailors Association in Somerset, Massachusetts.

In his later life, Frank became a big fan of the Disney characters. He greeted each one of them as his long lost 'best friend'.

Frank was predeceased by his parents Franks C. Clark and Zillah Mabel (Thompson) Clark, brothers Glen T. Clark (Elsie Mae), George T. Clark (Connie, Dorothy) and Roy E. Clark (Betty Jean), along with nieces and nephews Sandra (Clark) Schafer, Adam Smith, Lou Smith and James Smith Jr.

Frank is survived by his wife of 72 years, Mary E. (Smith) Clark, daughter Mary Alice Clark, son Frank C. Clark Jr., grandchildren Brian A. Clark (Rachel), Nicole Riegel (Kevin) and Matthew A. Clark and great-grandchildren Brady Stinson, Allison Stinson, Andrew Riegel, Kendall Clark, Hadley Riegel, Reagan Manghelli, Anthony Manghelli and Ryan Reese. He also leaves behind his sisters and brother in law Mildred Schaffer, Margaret Jasper, Walter L. Smith and Frank Vetter, nieces and nephews Carole Babes, Janet and Larry Leedy, Bryan Thorn, Lindsay Joe and Michael Davis, Mickey Straight, Ginny Smith, Susan Clatchey, Karen and Roy Shepherd, June and Egon Elsner, Annie and Jack Bigelow, Ginny Wehr, Myrl and Judi Smith, George and Linda Baldwin, Kenneth and Mary Baldwin, Judy Taylor, Dennis and Dot Cockrell, Amy Preston, John and Rachel Smith, David Smith, Anne Elliott, Josie miller, Joe Smith, Mary and Hud Dunaway and Robert Jasper and cousins Patty Crouse, Nancy Sinclair, C. Ady Hudler and Richard Marshall. Frank also leaves behind his in-home caregiver, Zaniqua Lewis, along with multiple great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Frank will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

A Masonic Service with Military Honors will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee with a gathering to take place before, beginning at 12:00pm. Following the service will be a time of fellowship with refreshments. The entire service will be livestreamed on Facebook on the Trinity Lutheran Church and School page.

In lieu of flowers , the family requests that donations be made to Trinity Lutheran Church and School or to the Tin Can Sailors at www.destroyers.org