Obituary of James E. Clark

Olean – James E. Clark "Loving Husband & Father" Master Sergeant, James E. Clark, 92, of 679 Garden Ave. passed away peacefully, on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 at home in the arms of the love of his life for over 75 years, Bernice Mary Geise Clark, surrounded by family and much love. James was born on January 20, 1928 in Olean and was a son of the late Edward G. "Eddie" and Margaret H. "Peg" Walton Clark. James read "The Book of Knowledge" Encyclopedia series from A-Z, when he was very young and had read it 5 or 6 times. He accomplished much in his lifetime though he quit school at the age of 16 to join the Maritime Service, as he was too young to join the US Army. At the age of 18, James enlisted in the US Army to get into the final stages of World War II. He was then sent to occupy Japan, where he readily learned the Japanese language. He went on to become an interpreter and served in highly classified court marshals and temporary assignments in Washington D.C. with his intelligence work. With his natural ability to learn the language and be able to speak it like a native, he was a much sought after individual. In Japan, James also learned Karate from a Japanese Master instructor and earned his 5th Degree Black Belt. His hands were registered as lethal weapons. James traveled the world on government assignments, also serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Altogether, he served 27 years in the US Army, where he received his high school and college GED's, as well as many awards and commendations from the US Army. In 2004, Olean High School awarded James an honorary High School Diploma. He was a life-long member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the American Legion and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars. James always said "he never had met a stranger yet." Along with his devoted and loving wife Bernice, James is survived by; his children, Karen (Guy) Bennett, Pamela Cunningham, Michael Scott, Kevin (Lori) Scott, Kimberlee (Harry) Stoner, and Danice (Jim) Galloway; his grandchildren, Matthew Stoner, Troy Miller, Kayla Wagner, Steven Folkenroth, Doug Clark, Toni Miller, Joe Blackwell, James Blackwell, Charlsie Blackwell, Jonathan Cunningham, Ryan Travis, James Spitalere, Kayla Williams, Christine Scott, Christian (Shane) Boser, Christine Smallwood, Drew (Misti) Bennett, Charles Bennett, Ross (Jessica) Bennett, Dina Orfanelli, and Dean Stoner; 35 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren. Along with his parents Eddie and Peg, James was predeceased by; a brother William Clark; and a daughter, Jamie Sue Creque. Friends will be received at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc.,646 East State Street, Olean, on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at which time funeral and committal services will be held. The Rev. Bruce I. Taylor, Pastor of Abundant Life Ministries, will officiate. Full military honors will be accorded by the Allegany American Legion Charles Harbel Post #892 Ritual Team. Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery Veterans Field of Honor. Online condolences may be made at www.LetroMcIntoshSpinkFuneralHome.com. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 6215 Sheridan Drive, Suite #100, Buffalo, New York 14221.