Zenas Peary Clark Jr

Zenas, Jr., was born September 30, 1929 in Buckhorn, CA, (a citrus ranch just west of Piru, CA) to Zenas Clark, Sr., and Helen Clark. Soon thereafter, the family moved to Glendora where Zenas, Sr., had lived as a boy.

While in first or second grade, Zenas, Jr., contracted Perthes’ (a disease similar to Polio), which required wheelchairs, leg braces, and crutches well into high school. The result was a deformed hip, and a slight hunch from using a wheelchair that was too big for him during a formative age.

He married a Glendora resident, Doris Lorraine Shorey, May 28, 1951. They lived several years in Navy housing during the Korean war before returning to Glendora to raise their growing family.

Zenas worked for Aerojet in the 1960’s working on defense projects, energy projects, and early research related to sending people to Mars. When the aerospace industry struggled in the early 1970’s, he turned his engineering skills toward the design of large-scale water purification systems, which were used worldwide.

Despite his earlier physical problems, or because of his earlier physical limitations, Zenas ran track in high school, became a certified scuba diver, served as a Cub Scout master and Scout Master, going on many hikes in the Eastern Sierras. Even as old as ninety, he would walk for miles at a time for exercise.

Doris and Zenas enjoyed many hobbies and activities together, including reading, sailing, snow skiing, camping in their RV, countless cruises, and traveling the world.

Zenas is pre-deceased by his wife Doris and a daughter Teresa Spoerl. He is survived by five other children Beverly Jafari, Glendora, California; Michael Clark, Scottsdale, Arizona; Richard Clark, Valley City, North Dakota; Paul Clark, Soledad, California; James Clark, Alta Loma, California; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 8th at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 120 N. Oakbank Drive, Glendora, CA (across from Citrus College).