Carl E. Clark, 94, Andover - THE WELLSVILLE SUN (2024)

ANDOVER – Carl E. Clark, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday (April 27, 2024) at his home.

Mr. Clark was born in Hartsville on December 10, 1929 to Jesse D. and Lillian A. (Whitford) Clark. He was a 1949 graduate of Andover Central School.

Carl worked right out of high school for Woodruff’s Cheese in Andover. He delivered ice cream throughout the area, including to Rexville. On one of his deliveries down a long driveway, on a rainy day he was met at the end of the driveway by a lovely lady. He promptly offered to give her a ride up to the house with the delivery and that was where it all began. On May 28, 1954, at the Parish Hall of the Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church in Alfred, Carl married that lovely lady, Reva L. Whitesell, who survives.

Carl later began working for Alfred Ag Tech, now Alfred State College, in the maintenance and landscaping department. He retired from there in October, 1987 as head of the Heating Plant, after 28 years of service.

In addition to his wife of almost 70 years, Carl is survived by three daughters, Carol (Jim) Richmond of Andover, Lois (Harold) German of Elmira, and Kathy (Kevin) Bentley, also of Andover; a cousin, who was raised as a brother, Roy (Jane) Halsey of Festus, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Bradley (Teresa Sparalta) Richmond, Nathan (Gretchen Ingalls) Richmond, Kelly (Tony) Cavagna, Sharon (Kyle) Roberts, Jessica (Chris) DeCamillo, Scott (Alanna) Bentley, and Shelly (Seth) Grant; 19 great grandchildren, Hailee Richmond, Adalynn Richmond, Alexis Cavagna, Julie Cavagna, Carly Cavagna, Logan Roberts, Cora Roberts, Ella DeCamillo, Maya DeCamillo, Emma Bentley, Alice Bentley, Matthew Bentley, Willie Grant, Lydia Grant, Drew Grant, Bella Sparalta, August Sparalta, Anthony Sparalta and Paige Ingalls; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Along with his parents, Carl was predeceased by his brother and sister, Paul Clark and Maxine Averill.

First and foremost, Carl was a family man. When not required to be at work, his life centered around his wife, three daughters and eventually the grandchildren. With no sons to work the farm, his three girls helped with the haying every July for two weeks and on Saturday mornings promptly at 7 a.m., with the dew still clinging tightly to the grass, Dad would fire up the chainsaw to cut firewood. All three helped to carry and stack, making ready for the winter season ahead. It was hard work but all these many years later, it remains some of their most cherished memories working alongside their dad.

For fun times, August was the usual time to take family trips to see friends in nearby states or to take short vacations to places like Gettysburg and Lancaster or day trips with his wife visiting old homesteads in Rexville and Hartsville. Another favorite memory was sneaking allowance money to Mom to purchase a caboose to tow behind the snowmobile for all of us to enjoy with Dad for Christmas.

Carl loved being a jokester and there was the constant but gentle teasing between him and his wife. He was always on the lookout for four leaf clovers and had an uncanny knack of finding them. He also enjoyed puzzles, the 3-D mechanical type.

Carl was very serious about providing for his family. In the late 1960’s, he first built the garage where they lived while he labored in the evenings and on weekends to build the house. He insisted that they weren’t moving in until all the trim and little details were finished. Reva took matters into her own hand and sent her husband to the store on an ice cream diversion while she and the girls moved their beds into the mostly finished house. That was the second time an ice cream event came to the rescue. They have lived there ever since.

Carl was a long-time member of the Andover Lions Club and the Andover Masonic Lodge.

Friends are invited for visitation at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover on Thursday (May 2) from 6-8 p.m. and Friday (May 3) from 12-1 p.m., The funeral service will be held on Friday at 1:00 p.m. immediately following the visitation with Rev. Phil Barner of Andover Alliance Church officiating. Burial will take place following the funeral service in Valley Brook Cemetery in Andover. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.