05/02/2015
Wayne Howard Clark died on May 2, 2015, in his home in Sacramento, Calif. He was born July 28, 1944, in Knoxville, the son of Howard W Clark and Gertie Buyert Clark.
Wayne graduated from Knoxville High School, class of 1962. He joined the United States Air Force in 1965 and served for 21 years. He served in both Viet Nam and Thailand during the Viet Nam War. During his service time he was awarded the following honors: Air Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Air Force Good Conduct Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five bronze service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the Royal Thai Supreme Command Forward Badge (1st Class).
After retiring from the Air Force in 1986, Wayne worked as a security guard in Sacramento, Calif. He particularly enjoyed watching sporting events – especially his Iowa Hawkeyes and New Orleans Saints.
Wayne is survived by his sister Connie (Larry) Wigger of Cedar Rapids; sister Mary (Vic) Galbraith of Shawnee, Kan.; brother Harlan (Delaine) Clark of Knoxville;, nephew Todd Burton of Olathe, Kan., and nieces Jen Vedock of Oakland, Calif., and Erin Clark of Des Moines.
He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Clark; his mother, Gertie Clark; brother Gerald Clark; and niece Dianne Hamersky.
A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall in Knoxville on May 19 from 1-3 p.m., with an honors ceremony being conducted at 1:15 by the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard Unit.
Memorials in Wayne’s honor may be directed to the family or sent to Wounded Warriors, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL, 32256,
or Operation Troop Appreciation, Century III Mall, 3075 Clairton Blvd, West Mifflin, PA 15123.