Marcus E. Clarkson

Marcus E. Clarkson Sr., 83, of Jeannette, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at his residence. He was born Oct. 7, 1922, in Jeannette, a son of the late William G. Clarkson Sr. and Annie Coles Clarkson. Prior to his retirement, Marcus was employed by Omnova Solutions Inc., Jeannette. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen Corps. Marcus was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church and American Legion Post #344, both of Jeannette. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Stafford Clarkson, in 2005; three brothers, Edward Clarkson, James "Buster" Clarkson and William Clarkson Jr.; and three sisters, Mae Howell, Annabella Tillman and Helen Isaac. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He is survived by a daughter, Janet Rogers, of Chicago, Ill.; a son, Marcus E. Clarkson Jr. and fiancee, Deborah Simpson, both of Jeannette; three grandsons, Marcus Clarkson III and wife, Jennifer, James Simpson and wife, Jennifer, and Nicholas Rogers; three great-grandchildren, Symone, Faith and Jayden; a goddaughter, Laurie Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the JOHN V. GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME INC., 228 N. Second St., Jeannette. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Hopewell Baptist Church. Entombment with military honors accorded by the Jeannette combined veterans will follow in Westmoreland County Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hempfield Township. The Jeannette combined veterans will hold services at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.