Thomas Bateman Clark

Thomas Bateman Clark went to be with his beloved Savior on February 25, 2024. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Catherine Rendell (Jeff) and Rebekah Giannini (Matthew), grandchildren Caroline, Sarah, Ava, Susie, Judah and Brian, sisters Melanie and Elizabeth and brother Stanley, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Dottie.

Tom deeply knew and rejoiced in the love of Jesus and shared it with everyone he met. He embraced the chance to serve God and serve others in the many roles he was called to - son, brother, friend, pastor, grandfather, father, and husband.

Born in 1948 in Kentucky, Tom spent most of his childhood in Texas. Tom’s life changed when he was introduced to Jesus at the age of 17. He enrolled at Wheaton College before transferring to the University of Texas. He went on to earn graduate degrees at Dallas Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tom loved to learn - in the classroom, through books, through conversations, through nature, and especially through the Bible. He used his knowledge, gifts and wisdom to serve several churches and countless people. Still, as much as Tom knew, perhaps his greatest gift to those he cared for was in the way he listened to them.

Tom was especially gifted at loving those close to him. He met the love of his life, Barbara, while both were serving on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. He loved and served Barbara faithfully for over 46 years. He was a kind, generous and loving father, and he was beloved and deeply admired by his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.

In recent years, Tom faced very difficult health challenges. He responded with the same faithfulness and humility that marked the rest of his life - continually telling people that even if he did not understand why he was encountering these difficulties, he knew that his God loved him and that his God knew best. This message will always endure with those who knew him. Even as Tom rests in the arms of His Savior, we know that we will see him again one day, and we rejoice in this truth.

One of Tom’s many loves was serving other pastors. He took several trips in his later years to Southeast Asia to help train pastors and church leaders there. In lieu of flowers, Tom’s family asks that you consider a donation to BEE World Biblical Education, the ministry that he worked with there.

A funeral service will be held at West End Presbyterian Church, 9008 Quioccasin Rd, Richmond, VA 23229, at 12:30 PM on Thursday, February 29, with interment to follow at Westhampton Memorial Park.