Rhea Kirby Clark

1930 - 2008

Col. (Ret) Rhea Kirby Clark, 78, Clarksville, Tenn., died Thursday, November 6, 2008, at his residence. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Neal-Tarpley Chapel with Major Richard Koyama and LTC Jimmy Smith officiating. Burial will be in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Monday at the funeral home. Neal-Tarpley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born May 20, 1930, in Wytheville, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ninah Clark of Roanoke, Va., brothers Clifton and David Clark, and sister Eileen. Rhea was a graduate of Virginia Tech and taught at Ferrum Junior College. He served 22 years in the US Army. He was a retired Colonel who served in the Vietnam Conflict and received the following awards for service; the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal w/"V" Device & 1st OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal #18, RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palm, RVN Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Vietnam Service Medal with Campaign Stars, Civil Actions Honor 1st Class, and Arcom. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne King Clark; daughters, Whitney Devers, Clarksville, Charlotte West (Stanley), Springfield; a son, Major Philip Rhea Clark (Trelane), Ft. Hood, Texas; a brother, Dennis Clark (Beth), Moody, Texas; a sister, Faye Danner, York, Pa.; seven grandchildren, William Devers III, Mason Devers, Whitney Elizabeth and Ashleigh Lemon, Matthew, Ryan, and Isabelle Clark; three stepgrandchildren, Amanda Sneed, Luke and John West; one stepgreatgranddaughter, Faith Sneed; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He is being buried with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers will be Soldiers Chapel ushers, other friends and family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Fisher House, 652 Joel Drive, Fort Campbell, Ky. 42223. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, Tenn. 37040. Online condolences can be made at www.nealtarpley.com.