On the 31st day of January in 1944, a son was born to Emanuel and Vernice [Brazil] Clark. He was named William Ronnie Clark, but affectionately referred to as "Ronnie" by all who knew him.


Ronnie grew up on the family farm in the Tolon Community, Southwest of Beggs with his three sisters, Vernetta, Rosetta and Lubertha along with his two brothers, Leo and Richard. He attended Tolon School from the 1st grade until the 8th grade, where he was an honor student active with the 4-H Club.


Ronnie was an active member of the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he joined at an early age. His leadership ability was obvious in everything he participated in during the early stages of his life.


He worked on the family farm with his parents and siblings until he was 18 years old. Ronnie attended Wheatley High School in Beggs from 1958 to 1962. He was an honor student every year and Class Salutorian his Senior year. He also participated in basketball, football and baseball. His main sport, however was basketball, where he played on the Varsity team for three years. He was known for his three pointers.


He continued his work in the 4-H Club and was an active member of FFA. During his tenure in these organizations, he was a prize winning orator. He won first place often, as he wrote and recited his work.


Ronnie attended Langston University, majoring in Agricultural Economics. Displaying outstanding leadership on campus, he was President of his Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha and graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.


Ronnie joined the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1966. He was drafted into the United States Army in the fall of that same year. In the Army, he attended Officer Candidate School, where he became a Lieutenant. William Ronnie Clark received his officer's commission in 1967. In 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he spent a year as a forward observer and fire direction officer.


In 1969, he returned to the U.S.D.A. and served for the agency in the States of Oklahoma, Colorado and Michigan. He retired in Michigan from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1997 after 33 y3ars of service and traveling across the country in the performance of his duties.


Ronnie traveled extensively for entertainment as well. He was an avid golfer and participated in golf tournaments all over the country. He enjoyed hunting, especially squirrels, rabbits and deer.


On the first day of 2008, William Ronnie Clark, after 63 seasons, left this life for a life eternal from the O. S. U Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents and his brother, Leo.


Ronnie leaves to cherish his memory; his dad, Emanuel Clark, of the home in the Tolon Community; his daughter, Delana Clark Anderson and husband, Bradley, Tulsa, Oklahoma; his son, Aaron S. Clark, Lansing, Michigan; a brother, Richard Clark, Beggs, Oklahoma and sister-in-law, Marsha; three sisters, Vernetta Brumley [Steve], Duncanville, Texas, Rosetta Hortman, Beggs, Oklahoma and brother-in-law, Andrew, and Lubertha Nash [Elijah], Beggs, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Ashley, Briana, Brittany and Alexandria; a step-granddaughter, Brandy; three aunts, Emma Hill, Denver, Colorado, Erma Banks and Eulal James, Tulsa, Oklahoma; a great-aunt, Eva Gibson, Tulsa, Oklahoma; along with a caravan of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.


The farewell will be on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. in the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, west of Beggs. Rev. Elijah Nash, Pastor of Tuskegee Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in Tuskegee Cemetery in Edna, Oklahoma.

You may visit Mr. Clark, as he slumbers at the funeral home on Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM.