Obituary of Wilma Clark

Wilma Clark passed away at Helena Place in Port Royal, South Carolina, on October 26, 2021. She was 91 years old.

Wilma was born in Boonville, Missouri, on March 16, 1930. She was one of 7 siblings. Her family owned a 1,500-acre farm on the Missouri River. Growing up, her main job was cooking to help feed the many farm hands that worked at the farm. Later, the Missouri River flooded for three years in a row, and her family suddenly lost the farm. All the children still at home were split up and sent into town (Boonville) to live with family friends. During this time, she got a job at the Lyric theater at the concession stand. She later said it was the best job ever because she also got to see all the movies for free. Wilma was voted homecoming queen and soon after eloped to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she married Thomas Clark(Tom).

Tom Clark served in the Signal Corps of the United States Navy during World War II. He then returned to Boonville and his wife, Wilma. He took a job as a bridge operator for the Missouri-Kansas and Texas Railroad (the “KATY”). With a growing family and a lot of pressure from Wilma, Tom enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he eventually earned his doctorate in physical chemistry. Tom accepted his first “big” job at Union Carbide in Buffalo, New York, where he developed the chemical formula for the first liquid spray-on car wax, which was named “Tom’s Quickie.” He held a US Patent for this formula. During these years, four sons were born: Tom in 1950, Joe in 1952, Jimmy in 1954, and Ted in 1959.

From 1959 to 1983, Tom worked for Union Carbide, then Celanese, then Union Carbide, then Celanese. Finally, he became the Director of University Relations for Celanese Corporation in New York City in 1969 and stayed in that position until his retirement in 1983. Our family lived in Grand Island, NY, Corpus Christi, TX, Charlotte, NC, and Westport, CT. During these years, mom was a very busy housewife, cooking, cleaning, baking, delivering, nursing, volunteering, shopping, hosting, etc. She used to bake 3 loaves of fresh bread daily, iron everything in sight, keep a spotless house, and so on. She was once asked what new appliance helped her out the most around the house, and she replied, “permanent press clothing--no more ironing!” She loved the theatre and made a point of taking the boys into New York City for the Broadway shows. 

In 1976, Wilma and Jimmy took a ride along the southeastern Atlantic Coast to find a retirement home for Tom and Wilma. From Beaufort, they took a ride out to Coffin Point, where they both fell in love with the property at 10 Saltwind Drive. Tom came down from New York and purchased the home. From 1976 to 1983, Tom and Wilma rented out the house. (Wilma preferred to rent to Marine Corps pilots. That way, if there were any problems, she would just complain directly to their commanding officer!)

In January of 1983, Tom and Wilma left Connecticut and moved to Coffin Point on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Wilma immediately went to work on the grounds, where she displayed her impressive gardening and landscaping talents. She put down hundreds of square feet of beautiful red ceramic floor tile. She painted everything in sight--walls, ceilings, cabinets, closets, doors, etc. She canned tomatoes every June--one June, she put up over 250 pounds. Most people said she made the very best tomato juice they had ever tasted! She made many friends in Coffin Point and hosted many late afternoon gatherings for cocktails and conversations. She hosted many fun parties. Her husband, Tom Clark, died prematurely in February of 1997.  Wilma stayed on at the house that she loved so much, even cutting the grass on her rider until a few years ago. In June of 2021, Wilma moved into assisted living at Helena Place in Port Royal, South Carolina.

If there was ever anyone who deserved a spot in heaven, it would be Wilma. She cared for her husband, Tom Clark, for his last year of life before he succumbed to cancer in 1997. She cared for Grandma Clark for the last 4 or 5 years of her life until she passed away in 2004. She cared for her son, Tom, before he died in 2015. She cared for her son, Jimmy, before he died in 2015. Wilma loved dogs and cared for a large pack of lucky dogs over the years. She found time to care for her grandchildren when needed, often for many months at a time. Somehow she always had time to care for anyone who needed help. Never once did she complain about life being unfair to her. She always had a way of looking at life from the sunny side. 

Wilma loved life. Some of her friends referred to her as the Queen of Boondocks Under the Oaks. She made a large circle of friends from people from every walk of life--shrimpers, tomato farmers, retirees, young people, singers, bankers, writers, musicians, etc. She loved her Wednesday nights.  (Wednesdays meant “Shrimp Nite at Boondocks” and a big crowd!”) 

Also, Wilma loved to go for long rides in her 2005 Jeep. It didn’t really matter where she was going; it was the “going” that was the good part. Anywhere, just drive and drive. She also had to have a hamburger, french fries, and a coke on every visit to town. Being with Wilma meant having a good time, no matter what you were there for or what you were doing.

Wilma was a lady of substance. She was one of the most spiritual people ever, yet not a big churchgoer. Once you were Wilma’s friend, that meant she would support you through thick or thin. You never doubted her bond, no matter how bad things got. She supported you. She had a way of “telling like it is.” So many people admired her for her straightforwardness. She loved a good argument--especially about politics. She volunteered at CAPA in Port Royal and at the St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island. Wilma was not into impressing people. Her clothes were usually from a second-hand store, she had very little jewelry, and her house was almost entirely furnished with used furniture and things that she had picked up at tag sales and thrift stores. 

Wilma is survived by one brother, Harry Allen. She is survived by two sons, Joe and Ted. She is survived by three stepdaughters, Lee, Lynda, and Fran. She is survived by six grandchildren, Mehgan, Sara, Chris, Allison, Salem, and Will. She is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren, Hank, Clint, Edie, and Mick. Wilma was predeceased in death by her husband, Tom, and her two sons, Tom, Jr, and Jimmy.

The family would like to thank the staff of Friends of Caroline Hospice in Port Royal, South Carolina, for the exceptional care they provided for Wilma Clark in her last days. They demonstrated caring, compassion, and professionalism in every step of Wilma’s final journey.

Also, the family wishes to thank the staff at Helena Place in Port Royal, SC, for the extraordinary care and loving environment they provided to Wilma. 

Wilma will be buried at the Beaufort National Cemetery on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. If you would like to attend, please arrive at the cemetery no earlier than 1:45 p.m.

When you enter the cemetery gates, please remain in your car and join the line that will be forming. Please follow the line of cars to the committal shelter where the service will take place at 2:00 p.m. After the service, please leave the cemetery promptly as the cemetery is on a very precise schedule. You are invited to attend a celebration of Wilma’s life being held at 8 Saltwind Drive on St. Helena Island, SC. The celebration will begin shortly after the ceremony ends at the cemetery.