William Frank “Bill” Clark, 93, of Festus died April 11, 2025, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County. Mr. Clark served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954 and was a retired glassworker from the Crystal City Pittsburgh Plate Glass plant. He served as president of the Glassworkers Union Local 63 from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1985 to 1988. He was a member of Elks 1721, American Legion 253 and served for 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. He loved to travel and spend his winters in Florida near the beach. He was an avid gardener and loved to share his annual harvest of tomatoes, blackberries and sunflowers. He also enjoyed sharing memories of playing on the undefeated 1949 championship Festus High School Football team. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Born June 5, 1931, in Herculaneum, he was the son of the late Vernette Emelia (Hellings) and Glenn Robinson Clark.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years: Patricia (Pratt) Clark; a daughter: Christy (Brad) Stites of Crystal City; a son: Scott (Judy) Clark of Hillsboro; four grandchildren: Andy (Joyce Yam) Stites of St. Louis, Mallory (Matt Windsor) Stites of Champaign, Ill., Ashley (Anthony) Sacco of De Soto and Matthew Clark of Hillsboro; five great-grandchildren: Josie Sacco, Ellie Sacco, Benjamin Windsor, Lucas Windsor and Sage Stites; a sister: Pat Essmueller of Wentzville; a bonus daughter: Suzy Brase of San Marcos, Calif.; and his caretaker: Janet Donohue.
He was preceded in death by a brother: Robert “Bob” (the late Jeanne M.) Clark; four sisters: Betty (the late Frank) Fleming, Peggy (the late Sylvester) Hogenmiller, Sally (the late Jerry) Linderer and Nancy Sue (Jim survives of Festus) Tuller; and lifelong friends: Jack and Mary-Lou Brase of St. James City, Fla.
A memorial gathering is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a memorial service at noon Friday, April 18, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by his sister-in-law, Sr. Mary Jacqueline Pratt O.S.U. Memorials may be made to Brenden’s Friday Backpacks or the Ursuline Sisters’ Retirement Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.