USAF Col. Ret Delbert M. Clark

Born in Barton, Maryland in 1919, he graduated from Barton High School; graduated from Frostburg State Teachers College in Frostburg, Maryland with an A.B. Degree; graduated from Bowling Green College of Commerce in Bowling Green, Kentucky with a B.A. degree; and received the degree of Master in Business Administration with Distinction from Harvard University.

He entered military service in 1941 and served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. He was commissioned a second lieutenant at the Air Corps Officers Candidate School, Miami Beach, Florida, in 1942, following which he was aide-de-camp to the Commanding General, First Air Force, New York. He completed pilot training in January, 1944. During World War II, he was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth Air Force in Chelveston, England.

Following World War II, he was Chief of Flight Test, Photographic Reconnaissance Laboratory, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Air Command and Staff College in 1947. From 1953 to 1956, he was Director of Management Analysis, Headquarters, Northeast Air Command, Pepperell Air Force Base, Newfoundland.

He was promoted to Colonel in 1956 at Pepperell Air Force Base. From 1956-1959, he was Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters, Air Training Command, San Antonio, Texas. From 1959 to 1962, he was Commander of the 3615 Pilot Training Group, Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. In 1962, he retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel and Command pilot with 5, 000 hours of flying time.

His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Citation - France and Germany, Air Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European-African East Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal Germany, National Defense Service Medal, Commendation Ribbon with two Oak Clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Upon retiring from the Air Force, he was employed by the IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York, for whom he worked for the next 24 years. He was IBM's Senior Organization Consultant at the time of his retirement in 1986. Del was a man of honor and integrity.

He was modest about his accomplishments and was so very elegant. He was much admired, dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Archie M. and Clementine L. Clark, and two sons, Vaun L. And Thomas H. Clark.

Survivors are his wife, Lynne of San Antonio, Texas; sister Eldora McBee of Barton, MD; brother Glynne Clark wife, Betty of Westernport, MD; daughter Susanna Clark-Smith husband, Rick of Fruita, Colorado; daughter Linda Dawn Zanfardino husband, Robert of Hopewell Junction, New York; daughter-in-law Irma E. Clark of Albuquerque, NM; former daughter-in-law Loretta Riley of Yuma, CO; grandsons Tracy E. Clark of Greeley, CO, Lt. JG. Tommy R. Clark wife, Angela of Oak Harbor, WA; granddaughters Sabre Workman husband, Jeff of Kensington, MD, Lara Saxton husband, John of Stevenson Ranch, CA, April and Danielle Zanfardino of Hopewell Junction, NY; step-grandsons Cole and Ronald Chaffins and step-granddaughters Nadene Monroe husband, Chet and Marti Weise husband, J.R. Of New Mexico; great granddaughters Shannon and Kayli Workman of Kensington, MD; Delaney and Brenna Clark of Oak Harbor, WA; great granddaughter Kaitlyn Saxton of Stevenson Ranch, CA ; great grandson Aidan Clark of Greeley, CO; and many nephews and nieces.