William Calvin Clarke

A homegoing service celebrating the life of William Calvin Clark, age 78, of Newark, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 22, at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service at the church, 383 Washington Street in Newark. Burial will take place in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

William, fondly known as “Tooda”, was born December 20, 1940 in Statesville, North Carolina to the late James Arthur and Ida Mae (Conner) Clarke. He departed this life on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Select Specialty Hospital in Columbus.

William attended Iredell County Schools. After graduation from high school he moved to the Washington, D.C. area where he worked as a driver for the Toma Furniture Company. He met and married Susie Clarke and the couple moved to Newark. In 1988, he retired from Riss International in Newark. William was an active member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for many years where he participated in the catering ministry and cooked for the men’s fellowship every first Saturday of the month.

One of William’s favorite hobbies was cooking. His skills made his family happy with rolls made from scratch. Lately, he thought his canning and soup making skills were the best because he used items from his garden. He was a faithful Steelers fan and they will miss his cheering.

The memory of his life will be cherished by his devoted wife, Susie Olivia (Phillips) Meredith Clarke; step-daughters, Eunice Meredith and Bessie (Joseph) Petteway of Maryland and Sondra Basden of Columbus; seven grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Mintz; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six sisters and five brothers.

Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for William and his family.