Obituary for William G. Clarke, Jr.

William (Bill) Garfield Clarke Jr., 78, Indianapolis, died Friday Sept 29 at home. Bill was born on his parents’ (William Sr. and Katherine Clarke) farm in Plainville, Indiana. Bill was the 5th of 9 children.
He retired from Indiana Bell as a PBX supervisor. Bill served in WWII as a Seaman 2nd Class in the Navy and also fought in the Korean War as an Army Signal Corp Corporal, earning three Bronze Stars and the WWII Victory Medal during his service.

Bill stayed busy in his retirement spending time in Florida and Indiana. His pastimes included repairing things in his garage shop, working on family vehicles, yard work, and tinkering in his vegetable garden.

Bill was married for over 50 years to his wife Mary Margaret “Marge” (Elliott) who preceded him in death by just over a year. Bill’s surviving siblings include his brother Robert Clarke and sisters Mary Margaret Hart and Wilma VanLue.

Bill is also survived by his three daughters; Kathy Stambaugh of Indianapolis, Deborah Herrara of Beech Grove, and Beverly Blanchard of Veedersburg, IN, and son-in-law Alan F. Blanchard; granddaughter Jennifer Huffman, grandsons Samuel D. Herrera and Josh Clarke, and six great-grandchildren.