Ricarda Clark

OBERLIN — Ricarda "Ricky" Clark, 81, died Feb. 21, 2014, in her sleep at Kendal at Oberlin after an eight year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Ricky Clark was a noted Ohio quilt historian, having published seven books and eight papers in Timeline Magazine for the Ohio Historical Society. She lectured extensively on quilt history and Ohio's rich ethnic contributions to quilting. Just prior to her final illness she was editor of the Ohio University Quilt Series, which published her last two books.

In 2007, Ricky received the Distinguished Ohioana Citation for lifelong service to the preservation of Ohio's material arts. On the same occasion she was cited for her service to Ohio by the Ohio Senate.

Ricky was active in Oberlin community affairs, an early mover in the Firelands Association of Visual Arts where she initiated 25 years ago the biannual exhibition of contemporary quilts, "The Artist as Quilt Maker." She also organized a representative group of Oberlin women to create the Oberlin Quilt, now displayed at the Oberlin Seniors.

Ricky was a member of First Church in Oberlin UCC for 62 years and very active in its choir. She was a music major at Oberlin College when she graduated in 1954 and had additional training in choral conduction at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Ricky is survived by David Clark, her husband of 59 years; a brother, Jonathan of Tucson, Ariz.; sons Jon and Kevin of Oberlin; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A memorial service will be Sunday, March 9 at 3 p.m. at Kendal at Oberlin with the Rev. David Hill officiating. Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria, handled arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com.