Bill E. Clark

Bill E. Clark, 88, Shawnee resident died Wednesday, February 20, 2013 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Bill was born June 26, 1924 in Foraker, Oklahoma to Luther and Vera (Coker) Clark. Bill moved to the Seminole area at an early age. He grew up in the oil camps around Seminole and attended Seminole Public Schools. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1942. While at Seminole High School he was an outstanding football player at the Guard position on the 1941 State Championship team. After high school he went to the University of Oklahoma as a walk on football player and received scholarship to play. Soon after he started at OU he left to enter the U.S. Army and served during World War II, in England, France and Germany. After the war he went back to the University of Oklahoma on the GI Bill where he earned a degree in mathematics and education.  Bill married the prettiest woman he ever knew, Ola Mae Chesser, on May 27, 1946 at the First Baptist Church in Seminole, Oklahoma. Bill taught math and coached football at Seminole High School for 3 years, Bill was the assistant coach on the 1953 State Championship team. Bill also taught school at Cleveland, Oklahoma for 3 years. After teaching Bill went to work pushing tools in the oil fields for Lynes, Inc. an oilfield tool company, which was later acquired by Baker-Hughes Tool Company. He rose the the level of International Operations Manager, which led him to travel all over the world. Bill has been to every continent, except Antarctica, many times over. He had interesting stories to tell of the many places he had traveled. Bill and Ola Mae lived in Houston, Texas for 26 years before moving to Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1995 after his retirement in 1992. Bill was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Bill loved to play golf. In all the years he played he had two hole in ones, however much to his chagrin they were both in the same year. He was a great bridge player. He also loved to read and watch football. Most of all he loved his family. And they loved him. Bill could make a finely crafted bookshelf and a fluffy pancake. He was funny and smart. He was kind and gentle. Although disease was robbing him of his memories, nothing could take his heart. Bill was a good, good man. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Ola Mae Clark of Shawnee, Oklahoma and daughter Jan Clark of Houston, Texas. A son Sidney Mark Clark preceded him in death in 2010. Memorial services will be held 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the Immanuel Baptist Church at 1451 E. 45th in Shawnee, Oklahoma, with Rev. Mark Wright and Dr. Doug Melton officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund. Funeral Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home, Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: February 26, 2013, 2:00 PM Immanuel Baptist Church located at 1451 E. 45th St. , Shawnee, OK 74868