Bernard E. Clark

BARRE – Bernard “Bernie” E. Clark, 81, of Barre, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2016, at his home.

Bernard was born on May 10, 1935 at Heaton Hospital in Montpelier, the son of Irving G. and Ruth (Maxham) Clark.

He lived in the Shady Rill section of Middlesex until he was nine years old when the family moved to Barre where he attended Lincoln and Mathewson Graded Schools and graduated from Spaulding High School in the Class of 1953.

In April of 1956, he joined the United States Army. He took his basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado followed by serving sixteen months in Heilbronn, Germany. While in the service, he toured Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland as well as several German cities. He was discharged in February of 1958. Following his discharge, he worked for the former Flint Lumber Company in Barre for two years. He went on to attend the Northeast Broadcasting School in Boston where he graduated in 1960. After graduation, he worked for Radio Station WSNO for two years as an announcer.

On July 20, 1963, Bernard married Shirley A. Mason of Washington. They made their home in Barre all of their married life. In 1963, he went to work at the Lacillade Lumber Company in Williamstown as a truck driver. He went on to become their shipping dispatcher and in later years worked in sales as a window and door specialist retiring in 1997 after being employed for thirty-four years. Upon his retirement, he worked at Howard’s Market and Hannaford’s Grocery Store in South Barre as a parcel attendant.

Bernie was an avid baseball fan. He was very proud of his baseball and sport card collection. One of the highlights for him occurred on July 20, 1958. It was Vermont Day at Fenway Park in Boston. In the first game of the doubleheader, (yes they did actually play two games for the price of one back then) Jim Bunning of the visiting Detroit Tigers pitched a no-hit, no run game against the home town Red Sox, 3-0. Bernie made many other trips to Boston to watch the Red Sox play as well as trips to see the Montreal Expos, the New York Yankees, the Washington Senators, and the Portland Sea Dogs. Locally, he attended many games of the old Industrial League with his father in the 1940’s and 1950’s. In later years, he became a fan of the Burlington Baseball teams and more recently the Vermont Mountaineers in Montpelier. He made a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also a fan of the former Vermont Frost Heaves basketball team.

Bernie loved to travel and attend concerts. Among his most memorable trips were to Branson, MO, the Grand Canyon, and visits to Disney World in Florida. His favorite concerts were gospel music and country music.

He was a follower of television nightly newscasts, both local and national. He enjoyed serving on his class reunion committee and was a life member of the Canadian Club in Barre. Bernie was active in the First Baptist Church of Barre where he sang in the choir, attended the Men’s Fellowship, had served as the church school superintendent, was a church schoolteacher, and had served on the church’s Property Committee. He also had been a volunteer usher at the Barre Opera House.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Shirley Clark of Barre; his two daughters, Karen Rielly and her husband, Patrick of Williamstown and Marilyn Pearson and her husband, Craig of Berlin; two grandsons, Dylan Rielly and Joshua Pearson; a great-granddaughter, Raelynn Rielly; his sister, Lorraine Glidden of Northfield; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Howard Glidden and Ronald Mason.

A memorial service celebrating and honoring his life will be held at the First Baptist Church in Barre at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather in the church’s fellowship hall for a time of sharing and refreshments. Additional parking can be used next door at the Hedding United Methodist Church parking lot.

Family and friends may call at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A private burial will take place in the Hope Cemetery in Barre at the convenience of his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 77 Hegeman Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446 or to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 98, Barre, VT 05641.