Obituary for William R Clark
William R. Clark, 88, of Millis, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2022, surrounded
by his wife and children. Bill, an eighth-generation Millis resident, was born to Elbridge and Alfreda
(Craig) Clark on May 22, 1934, in Framingham, MA. He graduated from Millis High School and attended
the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts where he received an associate
degree in Animal Husbandry.
Bill was married to his beloved wife for 66 years, Margaret (Parmenter) Clark, who survives him. Bill was
predeceased by his beloved son Stephen E. Clark. He is survived by his daughter Susan and husband
Jeffrey Gerow, son Donald, granddaughters Sarah Clark and partner Matthew and Heather Clark and
partner Jason, and grandsons Daniel Gerow and wife Melda and Peter Gerow. He is also survived by his
nieces, Cheryl Isaak and husband Rich with children Kurt and Elise, and Michelle and husband Danny
Luebke.
We remember Bill for his long life of service and his great love of his extended family and friends. We
remember him for that twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes. We remember him for his quick wit and love of
a good joke. We remember him for his boundless energy and hard work. We remember him for his
loving care of his mother-in-law in her final years. We remember him for his generosity and kindness.
We remember his loving words of blessing on us all.
Bill grew up in Millis, farming land with his parents that was settled by the Clark family in 1681. He never
lost his great love and knowledge of gardening. He walked the woods and fields there with his three
children, teaching them to milk the cows, pick blueberries in the Black Swamp, fish for catfish in the
Bogastowe and appreciate the splendid nature surrounding his hometown.
When the family moved to Irving Street, Bill shared his love of football and baseball with the
neighborhood children. They gathered all summer long to play for hours in the baseball diamond that
Bill constructed in the field by the house. In the Fall, we switched to football and the kids ranged up and
down in Clarky’s field.
Clarky will be remembered by generations of Millis High School football players as their biggest
supporter. For decades following his own football career in Millis, he showed up for every game and
worked the chains on the sidelines as the action moved up and down the field. He was honored by the
referees in the football organization for his decades of service. During the Bicentennial celebrations, Bill became a historic reenactor, joining the Medway militia in the spirit of honoring his Revolutionary war ancestors. Bill participated in reenactments of the battle of Concord and Lexington, the Benedict Arnold march to Quebec and the battle on the Plains of Abraham, the battle of Yorktown and others. He later joined Le Regiment Bourbonnais, a French regiment that was sent to America to join in its fight for independence and travelled to England and France for their
reenactments.
When Bill and Marge fulfilled a lifelong dream to build a log cabin on Clark family land in 1983, they
were able to fulfill another dream, raising Golden Retrievers. They raised the most beautiful puppies and
Dad’s “hobby” brought joy to hundreds of families over the years.
This year, the William F. Ray Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows in Franklin, Massachusetts
honored Bill with his 50-year pin. His years of service in the Odd Fellows included both local and State
leadership roles, raising funds for the Arthritis foundation, organizing blood drives, and other work that
earned him the honor of the title of Grand Chaplain Emeritus of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He
was a member of the Rosalee Rebekah Lodge in Medway and an associate member of the Rising Sun
Lodge of Medway and the Reliance Lodge in Walpole.
Bill had a beautiful voice, and his children grew up hearing his old favorites—Home on the Range was a
lullaby in his house. He sang in the church choir for years and he and Marge sang together until the end.
His last song with her was “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” just two days before his death.
Bill spent the last year at Riverbend of South Natick where he quickly made friends with other residents
and staff. All the staff took very good care of him, and his family will always be grateful for their
kindness. When Bill needed more care, the Good Shepherd Community Care organization stepped in to
provide hospice services. The family is grateful for their loving care of Bill and Marge in his final months.
The memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ, Congregationalist at 142 Exchange Street in
Millis at 11AM. A collation will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the service. The family
requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Church of Christ, Good Shepherd Community
Care (https://gscommunitycare.org/), or to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org)
by his wife and children. Bill, an eighth-generation Millis resident, was born to Elbridge and Alfreda
(Craig) Clark on May 22, 1934, in Framingham, MA. He graduated from Millis High School and attended
the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts where he received an associate
degree in Animal Husbandry.
Bill was married to his beloved wife for 66 years, Margaret (Parmenter) Clark, who survives him. Bill was
predeceased by his beloved son Stephen E. Clark. He is survived by his daughter Susan and husband
Jeffrey Gerow, son Donald, granddaughters Sarah Clark and partner Matthew and Heather Clark and
partner Jason, and grandsons Daniel Gerow and wife Melda and Peter Gerow. He is also survived by his
nieces, Cheryl Isaak and husband Rich with children Kurt and Elise, and Michelle and husband Danny
Luebke.
We remember Bill for his long life of service and his great love of his extended family and friends. We
remember him for that twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes. We remember him for his quick wit and love of
a good joke. We remember him for his boundless energy and hard work. We remember him for his
loving care of his mother-in-law in her final years. We remember him for his generosity and kindness.
We remember his loving words of blessing on us all.
Bill grew up in Millis, farming land with his parents that was settled by the Clark family in 1681. He never
lost his great love and knowledge of gardening. He walked the woods and fields there with his three
children, teaching them to milk the cows, pick blueberries in the Black Swamp, fish for catfish in the
Bogastowe and appreciate the splendid nature surrounding his hometown.
When the family moved to Irving Street, Bill shared his love of football and baseball with the
neighborhood children. They gathered all summer long to play for hours in the baseball diamond that
Bill constructed in the field by the house. In the Fall, we switched to football and the kids ranged up and
down in Clarky’s field.
Clarky will be remembered by generations of Millis High School football players as their biggest
supporter. For decades following his own football career in Millis, he showed up for every game and
worked the chains on the sidelines as the action moved up and down the field. He was honored by the
referees in the football organization for his decades of service. During the Bicentennial celebrations, Bill became a historic reenactor, joining the Medway militia in the spirit of honoring his Revolutionary war ancestors. Bill participated in reenactments of the battle of Concord and Lexington, the Benedict Arnold march to Quebec and the battle on the Plains of Abraham, the battle of Yorktown and others. He later joined Le Regiment Bourbonnais, a French regiment that was sent to America to join in its fight for independence and travelled to England and France for their
reenactments.
When Bill and Marge fulfilled a lifelong dream to build a log cabin on Clark family land in 1983, they
were able to fulfill another dream, raising Golden Retrievers. They raised the most beautiful puppies and
Dad’s “hobby” brought joy to hundreds of families over the years.
This year, the William F. Ray Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows in Franklin, Massachusetts
honored Bill with his 50-year pin. His years of service in the Odd Fellows included both local and State
leadership roles, raising funds for the Arthritis foundation, organizing blood drives, and other work that
earned him the honor of the title of Grand Chaplain Emeritus of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He
was a member of the Rosalee Rebekah Lodge in Medway and an associate member of the Rising Sun
Lodge of Medway and the Reliance Lodge in Walpole.
Bill had a beautiful voice, and his children grew up hearing his old favorites—Home on the Range was a
lullaby in his house. He sang in the church choir for years and he and Marge sang together until the end.
His last song with her was “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” just two days before his death.
Bill spent the last year at Riverbend of South Natick where he quickly made friends with other residents
and staff. All the staff took very good care of him, and his family will always be grateful for their
kindness. When Bill needed more care, the Good Shepherd Community Care organization stepped in to
provide hospice services. The family is grateful for their loving care of Bill and Marge in his final months.
The memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ, Congregationalist at 142 Exchange Street in
Millis at 11AM. A collation will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the service. The family
requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Church of Christ, Good Shepherd Community
Care (https://gscommunitycare.org/), or to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org)