Obituary of Walter Clark

Walter Clark passed away on August 13, 2010. He was born August 2, 1927 in Kirk, Colorado to the Reverends Frank and Beulah Clark. He had one brother, Robert and two sisters, Edna and Dorothy. As a child Walt helped with the various chores around the family farm. In 1938, his family moved to California where his parents attended seminary school. He told us stories of delivering papers and other odd jobs he did in Los Angeles. The family moved back to Kirk after his parent’s graduation. He said they drove back to Colorado in a “trailer”….literally. His Dad had fashioned a trailer into a covered wagon/tent/camper and the kids rode there from California to Colorado. At one gas stop his younger sister went to the bathroom and his Dad miss- counted heads in the trailer. So, after a mile or so of giggling the kids stopped their parents and went back after her. The family returned to farm/ranch and to minister at the Four Square church. Dad would tell us stories of braking horses in the Big Sandy. The sand was so deep it would wear the horses out and they couldn’t buck him off! His Dad and Granddad would put him on a horse with a blanket and knap sack to check the animals. Sometimes he wouldn’t be back for a week. He would also tell us of his grandfather, Ulysses, who had a pig farm and was an incredible stone mason. Ulysses homestead sold just a few years back and the new owners had to dynamite the house because they couldn’t bulldoze it down. After graduation from high school Walter joined the Army/Air Force in 1945. Walter had his ear drum blown out during target practice. This injury took him off active duty so he became an M.P. and was one of several to guard the “Enola Gay” before its mission. In December of 1946 he married Dorothy Smelker of Stratton, CO. They had two children, Ron and Patty. They farmed near Kirk and then south of Stratton for the Shiremans. After the drought of the early ‘50’s Walt went to work with this brother-in-law in Denver at Gates Rubber Company. Soon a job opportunity opened at Samsonite Luggage. He started out washing windows and working on the small piece line. Walt grew his career to be plant supervisor for the next 35 years. When he retired Walt returned to his love of the land by farming and ranching south of Limon. Walt loved Hereford cattle, but always said “In order to make things work you had to have the farming to offset the cattle”. For many years the day didn’t start without his morning coffee with friends at the many coffee shops in Limon. His life was lived through honor and integrity. His word was his bond, his hands were worn from hard work, and his heart was filled with quiet love. His family and friends have many wonderful memories to warm their hearts and to fill their homes with laughter. Walter is survived by his son, Ron Clark, daughter Patty Davis and her husband Gary, six grandchildren: Becky Thompson and her husband Kurt, Matthew Davis, Nathan Davis and his wife Cortney, Adam Davis and his wife Jeanne’, Jessica Skomp and her husband Chance and Alyssa Clark. Walter’s seven great grandchildren include Ashlynne Banks, Schafer Thompson, Cassidy Thompson, Kyler Davis, Shirley Jo Thompson, Caden Davis and Riley Davis. Also surviving Walter is his sister Edna McBroom and a host of nieces, nephews and close friends.