Wesley Ernest Clark

Wesley Ernest Clark went to be with the Lord on Friday September 26th. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil B. Clark, Sylvia Marie Dillon Clark, and his sister, Natalie June Carnes. He is survived by his wife Shelby Jean Byrd Clark, his sons Gregory Alan Clark and wife Marlys, David Wesley Clark and wife Leta Sue, his daughter Elsa Marie Clark and husband Rolf, his stepdaughter Terry Green and husband Jim, brothers William C. Clark and wife Delia, James David Clark and wife Beth, grandchildren Keegan, Kaitlin, Kincaid, and James Clark, a great grandchild and a number of nieces and nephews. Wesley was born in Pageton, West Virginia on December 13th, 1931. He grew up in Pageton and graduated from Gary High School as class president in 1949. He enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years including overseas duty in Japan as a weight and balance technician on a variety of aircraft. He returned to complete his college studies and graduated from West Virginia University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1957 he married Suzianne Williams of Detroit Michigan and they had three children, Greg, Elsa, and David, whom they enjoyed raising. They were married for 31 years. Wesley became an aerospace engineer for the Boeing Company in 1958 and began his 40 year career with Boeing on the Bomarc Missile project. He went on to spend the majority of his career at Kennedy Space Center where he was instrumental in the Apollo-Saturn, Skylab, International Space Station, and Space Shuttle IUS projects. Wesley loved his work and always felt grateful for his opportunities to work in the aerospace industry and be a part of so many historic events in space exploration. He retired from Boeing in 1999 and began traveling in his motor home across the USA. Wesley enjoyed the outdoors, recreational basketball, baseball, working on projects, visiting his family, golf and tennis. In March 2006 he married Shelby Jean Byrd, of Staunton, Virginia. They resided happily at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, where they spent much of their time boating, dancing, skiing, enjoying family get togethers, and Gary High School reunions. Wesley's final days were filled with expressions of thankfulness and gratitude to God and his family for his life, loved ones, and experiences. A memorial service will be held at Conner Bowman Funeral Home on Virgil Goode Hwy, Rt.220 at Wirtz Road, 62 Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, Va. on Friday October 10th at 11:00am. In memory of Wesley, charitable contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Foundation.