Richard Ray Clark

1934-2024

Richard was a man of few words but great presence anywhere he went. He was a genuine person without any fluff, flash, or pretentiousness. What you saw is what you got with no apologies. He was a thinker by nature and an introvert, and to know him was to respect and love him for who he was.

Richard Ray Clark, most recently of Tacoma, WA USA, died in nearby Federal Way, WA on October 18, 2024. He was born on July 7, 1934 in Baguio City, Philippines to Ashward Clark of New Hampton, MO USA and Isabel Ogoy of Baguio City, Philippines.

Born to parents of the greatest generation, his father proudly served in the U.S Army during WW2 and died as a POW during the Bataan Death March. Richard was only 6 years old the last time he saw his father. Their mother, Isabel, raised him and his 2 brothers Robert and Charles alone. They endured the remainder of the Japanese occupation and learned an instinct of survival as children of a US soldier, frequently disguising their lighter appearance and hiding in the jungles to avoid being captured by the invading Japanese until the liberation of the islands by the Allied Forces.

As soon as he was of age, Richard joined the U.S. Navy in 1952. He served a single tour being assigned to the Battleship USS Iowa before reenlisting with the U.S. Air Force, where he completed his military service of 20 years including serving in the Vietnam war. After that career, he utilized his experience in communications and top-secret clearances to secure a 30-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration with a short stint with the Secret Service in the 1980s.

Richard met the love of his life, Solita Villacrusis, of Manila, Philippines in 1953. They met in an unusual way for the time, as pen pals. Richard saw Solita’s ad in a newspaper and they struck up a relationship from a distance as he was deployed around the world(well before social media!). For years he courted Solita, despite the disapproval of her father Lucas. But her mother Epifania, saw something in Richard that made her know he was right for her daughter and convinced her husband otherwise to bless the relationship. On May 1, 1960 they were married in Manila around friends and family and their honeymoon was at Camp John Hay in Baguio City.

In October 1961, they welcomed the birth of Myra Bernadette Clark at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Two years later in 1963, Marjorie Ann Clark was born in Okinawa, Japan. It was 11 years until their only son, Joseph Ashward Clark, was born in 1974 on Andrews AFB in Maryland.

Unfortunately in December 1978, his first born, Myra was killed in a car accident at age 17. The family was changed forever but Richard endured and continued to do his best to provide stability and resilience for his family. He ensured his children had the best resources and education to achieve college degrees.

Marjorie gave Richard his first grandchild in 1991. Richard Clark Springer was born in Maryland and now lives in San Antonio, TX USA. Again, it was many years until the next grandchild was born to Joseph and wife Rachel in 2018. Anza Bernadette Clark was born in Tacoma, WA. Joseph and Rachel gave Richard 3 more grandchildren, Elio Lafayette in 2020, Florian James in 2022, and Caius Don Richard in 2024.

Richard was also blessed with 3 great grandchildren born to Richard and Victoria Springer in San Antonio, TX. Evelena Romyn in 2015, Nora Mae in 2022, and Julian Clark in 2024.

He treasured the fact that he was a grandparent and great grandparent, always wishing his wife Solita was there to see it since she was very open about her love for children. All of these children brought him joy, happiness, and a purpose to keep living and experiencing these things that his wife was not able to.

Richard had some furry companions in the household over his lifetime but his most significant one was a Yorkie named Lady, originally adopted as a companion for Solita since Richard continued to work long hours even in to retirement. Upon Solita’s passing in 2010, Lady became his right hand pooch, never leaving his side through whatever life brought him, good and bad. She passed in her sleep in 2022 and was regarded as his best friend.

Everyone who knew Richard knew his love for exploring, preferably behind the wheel of his car that he lovingly maintained. His last jobs in his working years were driving jobs, which just felt natural for him and provided well for the family. He loved just putting miles on his cars and seeing the country. The freedom and independence driving gave him was unequaled as it was something he could theoretically do at the drop of a hat with little to no planning. He did do much traveling after Solita passed. He loved planning and going on cruises and touring places he visited in his military time as well as going back to the Philippines 2 more times. Even after he couldn’t travel anymore, he kept his wandering spirit alive by listening to the travel stories of his children and grandchildren.

Our family couldn’t have asked for a better father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, brother, or friend. His strength, love and friendship throughout our lives enriched us and bettered our worlds.

His Parents, Ashward and Isabel, Daughter Myra, Brother Charles, and his Wife Solita precede Richard in death. He is survived by his brother Robert, daughter Marjorie, son Joseph, grandchildren Rick, Anza, Elio, Florian, and Caius, great grandchildren Evelena, Nora, and Julian.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation of blood to Bloodworks Northwest or your local blood bank. Any monetary donations can be donated to the VFW in memory of Richard Clark.