Russell B. Clark M.D.

CLARK, Russell B., M.D. Russell B. Clark, Utah's oldest resident, passed away peacefully in his 109th year on September 10, 2009. During the last months of his life he was a resident along with his wife, Donna, at an assisted living facility in Payson, Utah. Donna died five weeks earlier on August 6, 2009. Russell was born in Montpelier, Idaho, November 19, 1900, the ninth child in a family of eleven. He grew up on a farm where he developed an early interest in medicine through watching and assisting his mother as she cared for their neighbors. He went on to study medicine at the University of Utah and Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. His M.D. degree was awarded in 1929. Later that year while serving as a resident at Cook County Hospital, he was called on to pronounce as dead the seven gangsters who were shot in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. He married Ruby Dorius in 1929, with whom he had three children: Beverly, John, and Barbara.
After 19 years of successful general practice in Chicago, Russell moved with his family to California in 1948, where he purchased a private hospital in Artesia and later a second one in Glendora. After he and Ruby divorced, he married Donna Keeney in 1951, and had two sons, Robert and Stephen. In 1968 the family temporarily moved to Hawaii, where Russell served as doctor at Church College of Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii). After returning to Artesia for a few years, Russell and Donna moved to the Santa Ana/Tustin area where they lived for 20 years. In 1992 they moved to Utah, where their remaining years were spent. Russell was active in the LDS church throughout his life. Before his medical training he served from 1919-1921 in the Southern States Mission. Later service included bishop, high councilor, patriarch, teacher, and senior missionary (with Donna) in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Jamaica 1980-1981. During his many years of medical practice in Chicago and California, Russell enriched the lives of thousands of people. His community service included the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. His success in business ventures enabled his quiet and continuing philanthropic donations, mostly to the University of Utah, BYU, and the LDS church. On-going business interests in Nevada resulted in his being honored as America's Oldest Worker by the U.S. Department of Labor in October of 2003. When asked his secret to success and longevity, he replied, "You must enjoy your work, have a positive attitude, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, and try to reach out and help others all you can, each and every day, whenever possible." Russell will be remembered for his cheerful and friendly manner, the twinkle in his eye, his sense of humor, his happy outlook on life, and a remarkable vitality which extended into his 109th year. He was positive and generous by nature; his family and friends were blessed by his life well lived and will deeply miss him. Dr. Clark is survived by his five children: Beverly Johnson (Dr. Dale G. Johnson), Salt Lake City, UT; Dr. John Russell Clark (Antoinette Evans), St. George, UT; Barbara Boies (Robert Wayne Boies), Costa Mesa, CA; Dr. Robert Brent Clark (Anne Hess), Salem, UT; Stephen Craig Clark (Lindi Hamilton), San Diego, CA; 24 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, 26 + great, great grandchildren, and his beloved younger sister, LeOra Clark Larsen (102 years), Salt Lake City, UT. Viewing, Funeral Service, and Burial: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, Phone: 801-466-8687. Viewing: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 1:00 p.m.; Funeral: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends contributing to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, the LDS General Missionary Fund, or the LDS Humanitarian Fund.