AUBURN — Donol E. Clark, CPO, 82, of Lewiston died Wednesday after a 30-plus-year battle with cancer at The Hospice House in Auburn with his family by his side. Born in Lewistown, Pa., Nov. 21, 1935, a son of Edward & Gladys (Hartman) Clark.
From Dad’s Diary he wrote: “I was raised in the village of Parchey Town. We had a one room school house and a county store. I went to school there for the first three grades and then for the fourth to sixth grades at Yeagertown. Grades seven to twelve was at the high school. I played football and wrestled and was also in class plays. Upon graduating I enlisted in the Navy.
“In January of 1954 I went to Bainbridge, MD, for fourteen weeks of boot camp. Upon completion I went to Airman School at Norman, OK. It was an eight week school and then I was sent to Jacksonville, FL for fourteen weeks of Aviation Ordinance School. After school I went home on leave for two weeks. My first duty assignment after all the schooling was Adak, Alaska for one year.
“After Adak, Alaska, I was sent to Moffett Field in California, assigned to Fighter Squadron 193. While with VF193 I went aboard the USS Bennington for a canal cruise. After that I went aboard the USS Yorktown for a six month cruise where I saw many countries of the far East. Upon returning back to the States I reinlisted and was transferred to the naval air station in Brunswick. While serving in Brunswick I met the love of my life, Annette Pouliot, whom I married on May 30, 1959. Upon completion of my tour I was transferred to Fasrun 105, Roosevelt Rds., PR, where we stayed for three years. I worked and ran the Air to Air Missle Shop. From there I was transferred to the USS Roosevelt CVA 42 where I went on a Mediterranean Cruise and I saw most of the countries along the Med. Upon returning to the states Annette and I went to the New York Worlds Fair.
“I was transferred to Aviation Ordinance Class B School in Jacksonville, FL. After fourteen weeks I was ordered to VF-142 at Miramar, CA. Upon arrival we started the adoption process for my son, Mark. After that I went aboard the USS Ranger CVA-61 and went to Vietnam. I worked the flight deck in charge of loading and sending F4 Phantoms out on strikes. I had to ensure all those were armed and my ordinance men were safe. After six months I received orders to North Island, CA to Nuclear Weapons Training Center to teach. While there I started adoption processes to adopt my daughter, Donna. While at the training center I went to the Air Bases in California and Hawaii to teach and inspect. One of the biggest things that happened to me was the landing and launching off of a carrier. At the end of the Tour I was transferred to VP-23 in Brunswick, ME. This was my last duty station. I was in charge of all flight crew ordinance men. While in VP-23 I was deployed twice, once to the Azores and then to Sicily. I had over 1000 hours flight time when I arrived at VP-23. We were changing from P-2-V to P3 A/C. While in VP-23 I submitted my request to retire. Before my retirement we bought our home in Lewiston on October 23, 1973 and I retired from the Navy.” (As chief petty officer.)
“I went to work at UPS for 22 years and retired in 1995. Annette and I loved to travel and we also did a lot of wood crafts. Both Donna and Mark got married and gave us three grandchildren. On October 23, 2010 I lost the love of my life, Annette.”
Mr. Clark was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish at Holy Family Church for over 50 years.
Dad is survived by his son, Mark Clark, and his wife, Jonnie, of Lewiston; and daughter, Donna Bisson, and her husband, Michael, of Poland; three grandchildren, Johnathan Clark and wife, Monica, Glen Barry and Sarah Clark; two great-granddaughters, Isabella and Ayvah; two sisters, Nina Tusset and her husband, John, of Mountain Home, AR, Bonnie Clark of Tumwater, WA; a brother, Joseph Clark, and wife, Judy, of Norwich, NY; sister-in-law, Frances Cloutier, and husband, Roger Cloutier; many nieces and nephews.
A special thank you to the staff who cared for Dad for many years at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Online condolences at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.
Donol E. Clark
Send questions/comments to the editors.