Ben P. Clark Jr.

Ben P. Clark Jr. passed away and went to be with his Lord on Saturday, November 11th 2023. He died peacefully in his sleep at his extended care facility in Georgetown, TX after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s disease.

Ben was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 23rd, 1938, to Dr. and Mrs. Ben Clark Sr., but later moved to Alabama, graduating in 1956 from Gadsden High School. He then proceeded to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Auburn University. He would be best known in college for playing lead tenor saxophone for the Auburn Knights Orchestra, a popular jazz dance band of renown across the South.

Ben was married to the former Janet Louise Middleton of Harlan County, Kentucky in 1962, who preceded him in death in 1994. He is survived by his two sons, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin P. Clark III and his wife Jennifer of Aberdeen, Maryland and Tony G. Clark and his wife Willow of Caldwell, Idaho. Ben also enjoyed visits from his grandsons, Easton, 21 and Reagan, 18 both students at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Ben’s entire life was devoted to music education, the music business and after graduating from Denver Seminary with a Master’s in Religious Education, music ministry. Later in life, living and working in Central Texas, Ben was instrumental in supplying generations of Austin band and orchestral students with the right instrument to suit their passion and skill. He also served as minister of music in a small church in Austin, lending his fine voice to the task of leading sacred music on Sundays. Throughout this time, Ben continued to embrace his jazz roots by serving as a gigging musician in some of Austin’s coolest jazz clubs and teaching individual woodwind lessons to many. Up to the time of his passing, Ben was a highly active member Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas, singing tenor in the choir and devoting many hours to church and community service.

A celebration of life service will be held at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown, TX on Saturday morning, November 18th, 2023, at ten o’clock.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Clark family.