Rusty Clark

1947 - 2022

Howard Russell Clark, Jr. "Rusty"
1947-2022
Rusty was born in Edinburg, Texas February 4,1947 to Howard and Dolores Clark. The family moved to Houston in 1954. Rusty grew up playing sports and enjoyed family camping and boating adventures and spending time with his many friends. He received many athletic honors while attending Westbury High School and was offered numerous college scholarships but signed with Baylor University where he played football and baseball. He was awarded All Southwest Conference at Defensive End his sophomore year. However, wanting to play quarterback, he transferred to University of Houston where he also played football and baseball. He was voted most valuable baseball player, 1969-70. Rusty was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers after graduating from college with a business degree. However, he chose to play for the Canadian football league in Edmonton, Alberta.
Rusty met his wife, Connie, at Willow Meadows Baptist Church, where they were married in 1970. After a honeymoon in the Bahamas, they packed up their car and drove to Canada. They enjoyed their adventures in Canada but missed their family and friends and returned to Houston where Rusty went to work for a new home building company, Perry Homes. In 1975 Rusty and Connie were blessed with a son, Jeremy Russell. And in 1976 the family moved with Perry Homes to a new area just starting in Katy, which was Memorial Parkway. At that time, there was not a fire or ambulance service for the area. Rusty obtained an EMT certification so he could serve as a volunteer. He sold homes for several years before he started his own Real Estate company on Mason Road and worked as a Real Estate Broker for 25 years. Rusty received the Kelliwood Women's Association Achievement Award for outstanding volunteer service in the Katy area. The article in the paper stated "A member of Kingsland Baptist church where he serves in the choir, Clark has served on the Board of Directors of the Memorial Parkway Community Association, is serving his second term as president of the Taylor High School Athletic Booster Club. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Clark has also been involved as sponsor and coach for Katy National Little League and works with the Katy Youth Soccer Association and Katy Youth Basketball." Some of his favorite memories were coaching his son in sports, hunting and fishing, water and snow skiing, playing flag football at Memorial Park in Houston, and working on Houston Rodeo Committees.
After retirement, Rusty took great pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren and attending their many events. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Connie Coone Clark; his son, Jeremy and wife Kristi; his siblings; Candi Leonetti and husband Damon, Christi Chrisman and husband Bill; his brother-in-law, Gary Coone, sister-in-law, Martha LaGrone and husband Ben; his adored grandchildren; Caden, Callie and Cessa Clark as well as his nieces; Casey Leonetti (Erik), Laura Leonetti, Mandy Chrisman, Amanda Edmonson (Matt), nephews; Josh Chrisman (Tracy), Cameron LaGrone (Amy), and many supportive additional family members and friends.
A memorial service at Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church will be held Saturday, March 26, at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice or to Friends of WHS Foundation % 12519 Barryknoll Ln Houston 77024.