Franklin C. Clark

CLARK, CHAMBERS, GRAHAM

Posted By: Harvey W. Henry (email)
Date: 3/19/2007 at 20:17:45

Franklin Chambers Clark
June 10, 1912 - January 16, 2007
North Liberty, Iowa

Franklin Chambers Clark, 94, of rural North Liberty, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at his home.

He was born June 10, 1912, near Boone, the son of James Whittlesey
Clark and Dora Chambers Clark. He and Mary Graham married on Aug.
23, 1949, in Ewing, Neb., and later gave birth to four children.

He was a member of West Branch Friends Church and active in many
efforts for peace, justice, and care for the earth. Descended from
Puritans, he was reared a Methodist and became a Quaker as he sought
constructive ways to oppose war.

He was educated in Boone public schools and at Simpson College and four
universities. Much of his adult life he was a Methodist lay preacher.
He taught 21 years in public schools of Iowa and New York.
After retiring, he served as farm editor of the Iowa City
Press-Citizen. He and his wife traveled in the Midwest as field
secretaries for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, 1982-84.

Over a period of many years, Franklin and Mary built a house together
on their 39-acre woodland they called Gilead. They created a trust to
preserve Gilead's natural habitats and scenery for future generations.
After Mary's death in 1999, Franklin continued to live at home for the
rest of his life.

He is survived by his children, Daniel Clark and wife Jean of
Muscatine, Benjamin Clark and wife Judy of Iowa City, Hannah Rishel and
husband Brad of Holbrook, Ariz., and Samuel Clark and wife Amy of
Kinross; 10 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Rebecca Thrap and
husband Joshua, Sarah Rummery and husband Scott, Jeff Green, Laura
O'Brien and husband Rob, Amy Dlouhy, Heidi Rishel, Adam Rishel, Allen
Rishel, Benjamin Rishel, Lea Cree and husband Nick; four
great-grandchildren and a step-great-grandson, Jacob Thrap, Elise
Thrap, Cameron Thrap, Elena Thrap, and Caleb Dlouhy. He was preceded in
death by his wife, an infant sister, and three brothers.

A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007 at the Friends Church in
West Branch. The family asks that memorial gifts be sent to the Friends
Committee on National Legislation www.fcnl.org or the Southern Poverty
Law Center www.splcenter.org. Online condolences may be posted at
www.gayandciha.com.