Mary Battelle Clark

Mary B. Clark, of Ann Arbor died August 2, 2012 at age of 88 at the Chelsea Retirement Center. Mary was born May 10, 1924 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Frederic Battelle and the former Myrtle Rogers. Mary graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1941 and later graduated from the Michigan Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) with a teaching degree. Mary served in the United States Navy during the Second World War as part of the newly formed “WAVES” corps (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), helping train pilots at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Glenview Illinois. Following the war and a year teaching elementary school in Houston, Texas, she returned to Michigan and in 1952 and married Samuel K. Clark of Ypsilanti. Mary and Sam lived in Ann Arbor where they raised their five children. Sam died in 2006 after 54 years of marriage. Mary returned to school in 1968 to earn a Masters degree in Library Science at the University of Michigan. She worked for the Ann Arbor Public Schools between 1970 and 1986 as an elementary school librarian, principally at Burns Park and Newport Elementary Schools. She volunteered for almost 20 years at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, and Motor Meals. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Betsy, her children David and Betsy, and her husband Samuel. She is survived by three sons: Sam Clark of Ann Arbor, Andrew Clark of Lincoln, Massachusetts, and Fred Clark of Baraboo, Wisconsin, and by grandchildren Zoe, Joe, Jasper and Quinn, her nieces Jean, Julie, Nancy, and nephews Robert, Tom, Tim and Bill. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 8 at 4:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 120 N. Huron Street in Ypsilanti. Donations can be made in her name to the Huron Valley Humane Society. Arrangements, Muehlig Funeral Chapel, www.muehligannarbor.com