Thomas F. Clark

Thomas Francis Clark, age 83, beloved husband of Florence Clark, passed away peacefully at home on December 14, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. Thomas was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 23, 1940, to the late Raymond T. and Thelma A. Clark. He was raised in Tampa Florida and was a graduate of the University of South Florida with a master’s degree in political science/public administration.

Thomas was proud of past military service, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Intelligence Agency. He served with the 7th Air Force in the Republic of Vietnam and was awarded a bronze star among several other awards too. He served on active duty for six years and then served an additional twenty-two years in the reserves for the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon and MacDill Air Force Base.

Thomas married the love of his life, Florence, shortly after enlisting in the United States Air Force. They called Tampa their home until leaving active-duty service where he and Florence then moved to Naples, Florida to raise their three children. They loved the beautiful beach town of Naples and lived there for over 40 years. He was a former director of the Collier County Health Services (Immokalee FL) and retired as a Circulations Supervisor at the Naples Daily News. Seven years ago, they moved back to the Tampa Florida area for their retirement location and to be closer to their family members. Thomas leaves behind his lovely and devoted wife, Florence; three children, Wayne Clark (his wife, Rhonda), Lisa DeBilio (her husband, Charles), Robert Clark (his wife, Mary); brother, Terry Clark (his wife, Jane); sisters, Judy Jones, Rosaire Singleton (her husband, Jim), Kathy Wagner, Mary Lou Hamlin (her husband, Dennis); grandchildren, Jessica Puffenbarger (her husband, Jack), Cassandra O’Neal (her husband, Patrick), Jamie Rios (her husband, Adam), Jessica Lambert (her husband, Alex), Cody Cooper (his wife, Amanda); sisters-in-law, Eileen Menendez, Toni Ferraro; nine great-grandchildren and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Thomas absolutely loved being with family and was an avid sports fan of NASCAR, the Cincinnati Reds and all the Tampa Bay Teams (Buccaneers, Lightning, and Tampa Bay Rays).

A funeral service for Thomas will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida. Interment to follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery, Tampa, Florida. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home.

He says that this is his “Final Event in a Lifetime of Many Happy Events.” In lieu of flowers please donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Thomas’ name at: give.cff.org