Edward J. Clarke III

1957 - 2024

Edward J. Clarke III (Ned), 67, a Dalton native, died Monday, July 22, 2024 at home. He was born April 6, 1957, in Scranton and was the son of the late Edward J. and Alice (Barrett) Clarke Jr. He lived all his life in Dalton.

He was a graduate of Our Lady of Peace grade school and a 1975 graduate of Lackawanna Trail High School. Before retirement, Ned worked 32 years as a bridge inspector for Canadian Pacific, and later Delaware & Hudson Railway, and was a member of the Boilermaker Union. More recently, he worked in the area as a contractor with Scott Dixon.

Ned was an accomplished runner, having run races throughout the world. He completed 25 marathons, including New York, Boston, Dublin and numerous Steamtown marathons. Ned was also an integral part of the local running community and is known far and wide for his dedicated support of this community. He coached Our Lady of Peace cross country, was a longtime volunteer coach for the Lackawanna Trail cross country team, directed the annual Dalton Dash and also coached the Lackawanna Trail Youth basketball.

He was a member of Our Lady of the Abingtons Church, Dalton, where he served as a Eucharistic minister, and was an organizing volunteer of the annual fall festival. He spent 13 years as a member of the Lackawanna Trail School Board, and was a past president. Ned was also a member of the Dalton Planning Commission and Dalton Sewer Authority.

Informally called the "Mayor of Dalton," Ned was known for making lasting connections and helping guide people in their lives with just the help they needed at that moment. Words cannot express how many lives he touched and enriched. He was always a bright light with his smile and he had a way of making people feel valued, seen and heard. While he was proud of his own decades of sobriety, Ned also helped countless others dealing with their own recovery.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Kevin and James Clarke; and nephew, Michael Ryman Clarke. Surviving are sister-in-law, Bonnie Clarke, Dallas; a niece, Leah Clarke, Dallas; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2024 from Our Lady of the Abingtons, 700 W. Main St., Dalton, to be celebrated by the Rev. Arbogaste Satoun.

Interment will be held later in the Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

The family will receive relatives and friends from noon to 2:45 p.m. Friday at the Anthony P. Litwin Jr. Funeral Homes Inc., 33 Reynolds St., Factoryville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411. For more information, directions or to send an online condolence, please visit www.aplitwinfuneralhomes.com.