Oscar "Mel" Clark

Oscar Melville "Mel" Clark left this earth to be with his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, on August 12, 2021. He was born in Houston, Texas on April 22, 1929 to Maybelle and Lee Clark. His siblings included: Robert, Allie May, Willard, Elaine, Grover, Mary Lee, and Lee Jr (all deceased). He is also predeceased by two wives, Eileen Kattelman and Faye Tucker. He is survived by daughters Kathleen Dister and Julia Castner, son Michael, and grandson Nathan Dister. After graduation from Jefferson Davis High School he served in the Navy as an aviation radio operator in a TBM torpedo bomber aircraft. He attended Arizona State College under the G.I. Bill, graduating with a Bachelors degree in education and a Masters degree in physics. After graduation he began his career in semiconductors with the new Motorola transistor plant opening in Phoenix in 1956, where he led the development of numerous products. Afterward he moved on to a smaller company specializing in producing electronic parts for the military and space industry. Two of his most challenging projects included designing and manufacturing components for the first Martian fly-by and for the Apollo color cameras.

Memorial services will be held on Monday August 30 at 10 AM in the chapel at East Resthaven Park, 4310 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix Arizona.