South Paris, ME - Donald Oscar Clark, 86, returned to be with his heavenly father on January 13, 2023. Don was a resident of the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris. He was born in Littleton, NH, to Oscar and Doris Hildreth Clark, and grew up in Franconia, NH with his 5 siblings. Theirs was a hardworking family of farmers and teachers, descended from many veterans of the Revolutionary War and the Union Army during the Civil War.
Don attended Dow Academy as a child, and graduated from Haverhill Academy in 1954, where, for 4 years, he played basketball, baseball and sang in the Glee Club. He then went on to the University of New Hampshire, where he joined Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the university's choir. He graduated in 1959, having earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. From college, it was on to the U.S. Army, and basic training at Fort Dix in NJ, and finance school at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana.
Don was then stationed at Camp Zama, in Japan, where he worked as a clerk for the Adjutant General's office. It was here that he met the love of his life, Chieko, who worked on the next floor down. They were married in 1961. After leaving the military, Don, Chieko and their daughter, Carol, moved back to New Hampshire. Don then entered the Civil Service, as a Soil Scientist. It was his career which brought him to Maine, eventually, settling in Ellsworth. He went on to have a distinguished career with the Soil Conservation Service, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Don spent the greater part of his career on foot, mapping the soils and topography in Hancock and Washington counties. Prior to retirement, he assisted with the uploading of Soil Conservation Service maps and data at the University of Maine in Orono. One of the favorite aspects of his job was judging at state and national 'Envirothons', the nation's largest high school Environmental Education competition. Don and Chieko were very active members of the United Baptist Church of Ellsworth, where he rediscovered his love of singing and joined the church choir. Many will attest that Don had a beautiful baritone voice!
Following his retirement from government service, Don and Chieko moved to Hiram, in the western foothills of Maine. There, they joined the Riverside United Methodist Church, where Don served as a lay minister, joined the Men's club and continued singing in the choir and the Praise Band. He cared deeply about his community, singing in the local "Meetinghouse Singers", delivering Meals on Wheels, assisting with the RUMC food pantry and working with the Cornish bandstand concert series every summer. Don loved being outdoors - his favorite activities were fishing, ice fishing and gardening. He was a member of Fryeburg Fish and Game Association and truly enjoyed participating in the club’s events.
Don made many close friends over the years and will be warmly remembered by them. He was predeceased by Chieko, his beloved wife of 49 years, his parents Oscar and Doris, and his five brothers and sisters. He is survived by his daughter, Carol, a sister-in-law in Florida and several nieces and nephews. For those who wish, a donation in his memory may be made to the Riverside United Methodist Church of Porter, ME, the United Baptist Church of Ellsworth, ME or the Fryeburg Fish & Game Association. A celebration of his life will be held in the near future, followed by a graveside service this summer. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com