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William W. CLARKE 1925 ~ 2011 Bill died but we speak of him in the present tense because he remains in the hearts and heads of his family and friends. We will remember him for his humor, his sense of justice, his constancy and compassion. A native of Berkeley, California, Bill served in the Pacific during World War II and graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Washington. Bill was a newspaper reporter, public relations man for the Apollo moon-shot rockets and the roll out of the Boeing 747. He was woodworker, novelist, mariner and boat builder. He and his wife of 63 years, Barbara, amazed family and friends when they retired in their fifties and built a 50-foot wooden ketch from the centerline up. They lived aboard "Fortune" for twenty plus years on Lake Union and sailed the inland waters of Washington and Canada. Bill was a fixer of anything and could turn a chunk of wood into a beautiful and functional piece of art. He had a keen taste for beer and the New York Times crossword puzzle which he completed daily. Bill left a legacy of lighthearted playfulness and a serious, compassionate attention to those he encountered as well as for fairness and equality in the world. Bill is survived by; his wife Barbara, daughters Mallory, Lucy, and Ann; Lucy's husband Larry Hendel, Ann's partner Rob Komoto, grandchildren Kellen, Rachael and Riley and a myriad of nephews, nieces, in-laws and fans. A celebration of Bill's life will be held March 18th from 6:00 to 9:00p.m. at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club in North Seattle.
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3 Entries
I am so sorry to read of Bill's passing. It was my great pleasure to work with him at Boeing during the early '60s where we had adjoining offices. Bill's wry sense of humor and ironic views of bureaucracy were wonderful day brighteners. When I was assigned to the Aerospace Division, he generously helped me get up to speed and understand the nuances of the organization.
Although we lost touch after I left the company a few years later, I've never forgotten his kindness and friendship. My condolences to Barbara and the family.
Sincerely,
Gregg Reynolds
Olympia, WA
March 5, 2011
My heart aches for all of you. Lots of hugs and laughs help ease the pain of loss. My favorite memories of Uncle Bill include those of his huge smile and joyful belly laugh. Even his ears "smiled." I always marveled from my short perspective at how tall he was! And, just how did he get those long long legs tucked into that itty bitty convertible?
Take care of one another.
With my love and warm hugs,
Kristi Kuest Drake
March 4, 2011
So sorry to hear about this! What a big hole in my heart right now for all of you. I just have wonderful memories from childhood with Uncle Bill playing with us and pretending he didn't know the punchlines to the jokes we used to tell. Or him and Uncle Walt talking to us about books! I think the two of them are responsible for me being such a bookworm!
Sorry so many years have gone by since having a good conversation with him and all of you.
My love to all
Carole Kuest Kiele
March 4, 2011
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