Dr. Joe Clark

Dr. Joe Thomas Clark of Arkadelphia died Monday, June 2, 2008 at the age of 79. He is survived by Earnestine, his wife of 57 years; daughter Carol Jo Atkinson and husband Ross of Hot Springs and their children Chris, Kate, and Daniel; daughter Linda Sue Welch and husband Marc of Austin, Texas and their children Jake and Bethany and son-in-law David Vanderhider; daughter Christy Rogers and husband Brett of White Hall and their children Maggie Mae, Colton Clark, and Shelby Ann; two sisters, Sharon Cash and Martha Nann Dowell and brother-in-law C. D. Dowell; one niece Jodi Eppinette, and three nephews Mike and Gregg Dowell and Alan Cash

Dr. Clark was a 1951 graduate of Henderson State Teachers College and the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to attend Victoria University in Manchester, England. He received his masters and doctorate in education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Dr. Clark served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. His career in the field of education began as a high school principal in Ava, Missouri. He then served as Dean of Students at the University of Arkansas Medical Center from 1959 to 1964. From 1964 until his retirement in 1995, he was vice-president of Academic Affairs at Henderson State University. While at Henderson he was a sponsor for Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.

Dr. Clark was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Arkadelphia teaching Sunday school for many years. He served in leadership capacities for the United Methodist Church over his lifetime as a member of the Wesley Foundation Board at Henderson State University, the Conference Council on Ministries of the Little Rock Conference, and Administrative Boards of his home churches. He was the recipient of the Francis Asbury Award for Fostering United Methodist Ministries in Higher Education from the Little Rock Annual Conference in 1982.

Dr. Clark was a past Master of Arkadelphia Masonic Lodge #381. He was a past Patron of Arkadelphia Chapter Eastern Star #378. He was a 1995 recipient of the Henderson State University Distinguished Alumni Award and a 2001 recipient of the Henderson State University H Award. He was a long time member of the Arkadelphia Rotary Club and served on the Arkadelphia School Board for 10 years. He was a past president of the Arkansas School Board Association and the Arkansas Deans Association and served 9 years on the Dawson Education Cooperative Board.

Funeral services will be 2 PM Thursday, June 5th at Arkadelphia First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow the services at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 4th from 6-8 PM at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Caddo and 9th Streets Arkadelphia 71923 or the Joe T. Clark Scholarship Fund at Henderson State University Foundation, Box 7550 Arkadelphia 71999.