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In Memoriam: B.C. Clark Jr., Chairman Emeritus, B.C. Clark Jewelers, Oklahoma City, OK February 06, 2015 (0 comments)
Oklahoma, City, OK—Just moments after the February 6 edition of The Centurion Newsletter went to press, we learned that Benton Clyde Clark, Jr. (B. C. Clark Jr.) died peacefully on February 4, at the amazing age of 101 years.
He was born April 4, 1913 in Purcell, OK. He met the love of his life while attending Oklahoma City University and married Ruth Carroll on leap day, February 29, 1936. They were married for 59 years before her death on March 4, 1995. Clark later married Jeroldine Zachritz and they enjoyed 11 years together until her death on September 14, 2008.
As a member of America’s “Greatest Generation,” he served honorably in the Navy as a gunnery officer during World War II.
He most recently served as Chairman Emeritus of B. C. Clark Inc., a family-owned retail jewelry firm celebrating 123 years in business in Oklahoma. He worked in the family business as a young teenager up until his early nineties, making an indelible mark on the success of the business. He was endeared by his family of employees and will be missed by all whose lives he touched throughout his 101 years.
The jewelry business has always been his first love but he also gave back to his community in so many ways with his involvement in civic and church-related work. He created endowment funds at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and established the B. C. Clark Jr. Chair endowment fund at the Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University. He served as president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Retailers Association, the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Retail Jewelers Association and the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he established the B. C. Clark Jr. “Go To Camp” endowment fund. He was a past regional vice president of Jewelers of America, and served on the boards of many other civic and business organizations and financial institutions.
Among the many notable honors Clark received were the “Pathmaker Award” from the Oklahoma County Historical Society, the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Oklahoma Jewelers Association, the “Wall of Fame Humanitarian Award” from the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation and an “Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science” from Oklahoma City University, 2007 Alumnus of the Year – Classen Highschool. and the “Silver Beaver Award” from the Boy Scouts of America.
He was a long time member of the Fortune Club, Men’s Dinner Club, and the Quail Creek Golf and Country Club. He was a founding member of May Avenue United Methodist Church and devoted member of Nichols Hills United Methodist Church. But as much as he devoted his life to city, state, and church, he would have been the first to tell you that his family was his proudest achievement and the most important part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Flora and B. C. Clark Sr, and five sisters, Vera Evans, Mary Lee Clark, Floreta Tomlin, Clara Mae Stuhr, Sally Langston and a daughter-in- law, Johanna Clark.
He is survived by his two sons, Dr. Benton C. Clark III, and Jim C. Clark and wife Carolyn. He had seven grandchildren who knew him as Papaw: Mayree Clark and husband Jeff Williams, Chris Clark and wife Teresa, Tiffany Clark Johnson and husband Charlie, Cheryl Clark Wolverton and husband Mike, Ashley Clark Schmidt and husband Andrew, Coleman Clark and wife Melissa, and Mitchell Clark and wife Laetitia.
Clark also is survived by 21 great grandchildren: Braden Williams, Cale Williams, Bayleigh Clark, Hayden Clark, Jacob Clark, Jake Johnson, Brielle Johnson, Kate Wolverton Stair and husband Todd, Kris Wolverton, Matt Wolverton, Charlie Schmidt, Anna Schmidt, Nathan Schmidt, David Schmidt, Emmy Clark, Elyce Clark, Estelle Clark, Evelyn Clark, Owen Clark, Aaron Clark, and Isaac Clark. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Clark was a man of great substance and character who was admired by all who had the privilege to have known him, says grandson Coleman Clark. His humble spirit and uncompromising integrity were legendary.
The Clark family also wishes to acknowledge the remarkable and loving caregivers who devoted endless hours of comfort and attention to B. C. Clark Jr.: Linda Lewis, Laenita Cartwright, Bernice Brown, James Brown, and Carol Reynolds. Says Coleman Clark, “They were our “Guardian Angels” who became an essential extension of our family.”
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 PM at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, 1212 Bedford Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. Donations in Clark’s memory may be made to Boy Scouts of America Last Frontier Council, 3031 N. W. 64th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.