Richard Clark

Richard Barnes Clark, 89, passed away peacefully on Nov. 15, 2022 from a chronic illness. He was born June 5, 1933, in Little Rock, the son of Ovid Barnes Clark and Margaret Richards Clark. They both preceded him in death.

Richard attended Rice University, Little Rock Junior College, and the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, graduating with an MD degree in 1958. Training in Anesthesiology was at the Lahey Clinic, Boston, MA 1959-1961. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany, 1961-1963. After two years of private practice in Pensacola, FL, he returned to Little Rock where he was on the faculty of UAMS for 30 years.

Richard married Nancy McCullough, whom he had met at LRJC, on August 10, 1957. Nancy preceded him in death. They had four cherished children, Murray (Rushelle), Raymond (Debbie), Diana, and Brett. He was the proud grandfather of Sean, Nathan, David, Arianna, Alexander, and Zachary. Richard was a kind, smart man who loved his family. He tried to attend every event his children or grandchildren had.

Richard returned to UAMS in 1965 and eventually rose to the rank of Professor of Anesthesiology. He was very active in medical and historical endeavors and was Past President of the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiologists, Society of Obstetrical Anesthesiology and Perinatology(SOAP), History of Medicine Associates, and the Pulaski County Historical Association. He was one of the six founders of SOAP and was elected to the UAMS Hall of Fame. The Pulaski County Medical Society awarded him the President’s Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Contributions to Medicine.

Richard was an avid listener of classical music and enthusiastically supported the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. He loved languages particularly Latin and German, and was a history and astronomy buff. Richard enjoyed fishing and canoeing during annual family trips on the Buffalo River. As a youth, Richard participated in Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He often treated his family and friends to his homemade Chicken Taverna and shish kabob. He was a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 20 from 2:00-4:00 pm at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, November 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Church located on Reservoir Road. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.

The family extends it’s appreciation and gratitude to all the caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Pulaski County Historical Society.

A visitation for Richard will be held Sunday, November 20, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W 12Th St, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. A funeral service will occur Monday, November 21, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1818 Reservoir Road, Little Rock, Arkansas. A burial will occur Monday, November 21, 2022 at Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com for the Clark family.