Robert Lyle Clark

Robert "Bob" Lyle Clark of Freeville, New York, passed from this world to rest with his Father and Savior on Monday, May 12th, 2014 after an extended illness. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martha Louise Baese Clark, along with his five children, Katherine (Bruce) Schultz, Matthew (Eileen) Clark, Kristin (David VanAmeyden) Clark , Daniel Clark, and Marsha (Michael) Sierra, and 3 grandchildren: Jenny Clark, Sara Schultz, and Christian Schultz; he is also survived by his sisters, Diana (Calvin) Emerson and Beverly (Donald) Shaner, and a brother, Melvin (Gloria) Clark and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. A celebration of Bob's life will take place on Sunday, with private viewing for family and close friends from 2:00 to 3:00, public viewing from 3:00 to 4:00. The funeral service will begin at 4:00 and a dinner will be provided by congregation members for those who would like to reminisce and participate in fellowship with Bob's family. The interment ceremony will take place on Monday, 19 May at 1:00 pm at Sampson National Cemetery in Romulus, NY (6632 New York 96A).

Bob was born in Wellsville in Western New York State in 1930, number 8 of 11 children. He attended a one-room school house for elementary school and graduated from high school in nearby Bolivar, where he participated in varsity football, basketball, and track & field, and specialized in sprints and hurdles. During his high school athletic career, Bob held the New York State record for the 220-yard low hurdles. After graduating high school, he moved to Rochester, like many young people at that time, where he found work in a factory, manufacturing automobile parts. The Korean Conflict broke out not long after, and in 1951, he was drafted into the Army, where he was assigned as a radio signalman. The doctors at the draft board apparently didn't notice he couldn't hear in his left ear due to a perforated ear drum. Bob served in the Pusan Perimeter in an anti-aircraft artillery unit, posted at the top of a mountain. By completion of his two-year tour in 1953, he had been promoted from Private to Technical Sergeant.

Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to his factory job at General Motors, but his supervisor had other plans for him. He sat Bob down and made him apply to attend Valparaiso University in Indiana. Bob was accepted and, with the GI Bill and other funding, he headed to Valpo, where he majored in Business and Accounting. He met his future wife, Martha Baese, at Valpo during a spring mixer. As they danced to the Bumps-a-Daisy, she decided she was not going to bumps her daisy with someone she didn't know. Martha sidestepped at the last moment and Bob landed in the middle of the dance floor. That did not derail his interest in Mart in the least, though. His persistence paid off and by 1957, he had proposed and she had accepted. They were married in June 1958.

Over the next several years, Bob's role expanded to include "Dad" as Bob and Marti had a daughter, Kathy, in Valparaiso and a son, Matt, in Geneva, Illinois. By 1962, Bob had been hired to work as a cost accountant at DELCO in Rochester, so the family moved to nearby Spencerport. They had three more children over the next 8 years - Kristin, Daniel, and Marsha. Bob had acquired a license and certification as a healthcare administrator and was hired in 1970 to serve as the Assistant Administrator of Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, NY. The family moved to Wellsville, and enjoyed living near Bob's parents, Myrtle and Clifford, and his siblings, Melvin in Perry and Diana in Rochester. Between 1973 and 1976, he founded and ran the Allegany County Rural Health Clinic in Andover, NY. In 1976, he was hired to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Reconstruction Home in Ithaca, NY, so the family moved to Dryden, where Marti and Bob have lived ever since. Over the years, Bob adapted with the times, changing careers several more times after leaving the Reconstruction Home and operating another rural health clinic in Cortland County. Bob also tried his hand at real estate during the ‘80s and turned to silversmithing and jewelry making in the ‘90s and on into the new century.

In addition to his military service, Bob has continued to serve his community through lifetime membership in Service to Mankind (SERTOMA), in which he served as president of the Dryden Chapter and regional governor, and was awarded Sertoman of the Year, among other awards received. Bob also volunteered to work in support of many blood drives, and with a rare blood type, Bob also donated blood every opportunity he could and in recent years. Additionally, he served as a volunteer elections monitor with his wife.

We all knew different aspects of Bob, but in essence, he was really just a simple man who loved to talk about anything, share his knowledge, enjoy a good joke, help others, and love his family and friends. Over the course of his life, he came to know his Savior and became more devoted as a Christian and tried to be the example for others to follow in their path of faith.

The family expresses deep appreciation to the faculty and staff at Cayuga Medical Center, Guthrie Clinic, Strong Memorial Hospital NeuroMedicine ICU, Dryden Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance, and Bangs Ambulance, and others who helped to care for Bob during his illness. We also thank Bangs Funeral Home for treating Bob with the respect he is due and his family with the care they need.