Otha Johnson Clark

Otha Johnson "Bud" Clark passed away on New Year's Eve, 2017 at the age of 96. He was born May 1, 1921 in Clayton, New Mexico to Melvina and Otha Clark. He lived in Clayton until his graduation form Clayton High School in 1939.

In September 1939, Bud enrolled at Las Cruces State College attending the School of Engineering until 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Bud then enlisted in the Navy and signed up for flight training. He was assigned to Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California in the Spring of 1942. He graduated in October of that year and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. On April 13, 1943 Bud married his high school sweetheart, Vivian Keuneke, In May of that year he was assigned to report to Chicago for carrier landing training. After additional training assignments, he boarded a shop for Pearl Harbor in January 1944 and was assigned to the Altamaha and Fanshaw Bay carriers as a torpedo bomber pilot. In the spring of 1945 Bud traveled to Miami to train new pilots. When the war ended, he returned to New Mexico to raise his family.

Bud began work at Edwards Air Force Base in 1949 as an engineer at the Power Plant, eventually relocation to the Rocket Propulsion Lab "up on the hill." He retired form civil service 30 years later. Bud and Vivian enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in their motor home. They moved from Lancaster to El Cajon, CA in 1978 where they were very active in the Bostonia Church of Christ. Scrabble was Bud's favorite pastime activity, more often than not winning the game.

Bud is survived by his son Bruce and his wife, Nancy, his daughter Judy and his son Jay and his wife Cathy. He is also survived by grandchildren Alan, Brad, Brant, Jeff, Andy, Marshall, Cristin, Ellery and Jeff as well as nineteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Vivian and his son Bill. Bud was a kind and giving man, an inspiration to his family and friends.

Services will be held on January 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Joshua Memorial Park and Mortuary 808 East Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.