John Kenneth Clark, 80, of Box Springs, Georgia, died Friday, May 31, 2013, at Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.
He was born to Heman Glennwood and Vivian Hester Clark in Lumberton and grew up in Raeford, graduating from Hoke High School at the age of 17. He then joined the US Navy where he proudly served four years of shipboard Korean War duty. He entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1954, earning a degree in journalism three years later.
He worked for the Charlotte Observer as a reporter and editorial writer before entering the public relations field, where he held corporate positions with Monsanto, M&M/Mars and North Carolina National Bank. He was inducted into the Public Relations Hall of Fame in 1990 and retired from Duke Power in 1992, where he was Vice President in Charge of Corporate Communications.
After his retirement, he devoted himself to public service, having moved to Marion County, Georgia to be close to his wife Shirley's family.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Clark of Box Springs; a son, John Kenneth Clark, Jr. of Morganton; three daughters, Beth McLeod, Karen Kunkle and Lisa Crawford and husband Dennis, all of Seattle, Washington; a brother Tony F. Clark and wife Peggy of Chapel Hill; a sister, Jean Johnson Kelly and husband Bill of Raeford; seven grandchildren, Lindsey McLeod, Robert Kunkle, William Kunkle, Kimberly Kunkle, Dustin Lagos, David Crawford, Jennifer Crawford; and two great-grandsons, Leo Sanon and Colin Crawford.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at New Providence Baptist Church with the Rev. David Chapman officiating. Music will be provided by Sherry McAllister. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 4 from 6-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Providence Baptist Church Building Fund, 51 Moon Lane, Buena Vista, GA, 31803, or the John B. Amos Cancer Center, 1831 5th Ave., Columbus, GA, 31904. Watson-Tante Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia, was in charge of arrangements.