|
Clark Gerald
Wylie, 84, of Melba, passed away at his home on Saturday, Jan.
6, 2007, surrounded by his loving family. He was stricken with
blastic lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. A
graveside service to celebrate his life was scheduled for 11
a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at the Melba Cemetery
with military honors by the Melba American Legion
Divin-Slonecker Post #126. Immediately following the graveside
service family and friends were invited for lunch and a time
of fellowship at the Melba Senior
Citizen
Center. Friends and family may
send condolences and memories to the Alsip & Persons Funeral
Chapel web site at www.alsipfuneralchapel.com.
Clark was born on March 23, 1922, in
Steubenville,
Ohio, to Helen B. Wylie.
He was raised by his grandparents who taught him the qualities
he would always be known for — honesty, hard work and loyalty
to the family. He lived in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania
and West Virginia, graduating
from high school in
Weirton, West Virginia, in 1941. He entered the U.S.
Army on October 27, 1942, at the age of 20 where he would
learn duty to country, service to the community, state and
nation and courage in the face of danger.
Following basic training at
Camp Atterbury,
Indiana, he was assigned to the
329th Infantry Regiment, a part of the 83rd Division. On April
6, 1944, the 329th embarked on a trip to
England
where they would further train to prepare them for infantry
warfare in Germany.
Following the D-Day invasion on June 6 they boarded vessels
and sailed for France. Once
again they trained on the fringes of the war. They entered
major combat on July 4, 1944, and on July 7 a mortar shell
exploded and Clark was wounded to the extent that he spent the
next 10 months in hospitals in England and later in the U.S. He was
awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American
Campaign Medal, Victory Medal and a European African Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal.
Following
hospitalization, he was assigned to Gowen Field at Boise, Idaho;
where he served as dispatcher in the motor pool. There he met
his future wife, Madge Lorene Cook of Melba. He was honorably
discharged from the Army on Dec. 12, 1945, from
Camp Cooke, CA. He returned to Idaho
and he and Madge were married on Dec. 26, 1945, in Boise.
They returned to
Clark's hometown of
Weirton,
West Virginia, where he worked for
the Weirton Steel mill, a job he had held before his entry
into the service. In September of 1948, they returned to Melba
where they would live for the rest of his life. He was
appointed postmaster in 1950 and served in that capacity for
18 years. Following the death of the rural carrier, Clark transferred to that job and served for nine years,
retiring in 1979.
He and Madge had 7
children, 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He was
preceded in death by his grandparents, mother and son, Warren.
Clark was active in the Melba Businessmen's Assn., the
American Legion where he served as adjutant for 15 years and
served as Cubmaster for 5 years, and the Postmaster's Assn.,
traveling all over the state to conventions and meeting other
postmasters.
When he "couldn't nail two
boards together," he set out to build the house that still
stands at 520
Carrie Rex Ave. in Melba where he
lived for over 50 years.
He tilled
gardens for every little old lady in the valley for several
years and ran swathers for various farmers. His favorite
avocation was cooking for the cowboys at the Charters'
Hill
City ranch during the '80s
on their summer cattle drives.
He loved
fishing and camping out, then graduated to a motor home and a
boat where he spent many hours at Sheep Creek. At last, he
enjoyed a scooter on which he could move around his yard and
garden without having to walk. And finally, he enjoyed playing
pinochle with his family.
He will be
missed by his wife of 61 years, Madge; his children, Larry
Wylie, Priest River, ID; Wendy (Andy) Maiden, Nampa, and
Beverly (Tiny) Robinson, Mary Ann (Leonard) Loper, Roger Wylie
and Jerry Wylie, all of Melba. |
