John "Jack" F. Clark

John "Jack" F. Clark, of Greenwood, Delaware, entered eternal rest on February 3, 2026.

John was born in Milford, Delaware on November 30, 1939. The son of Thomas and Caroline Clark, he grew up on the family farm in Cedar Neck. In 1957, he graduated from Milford High School.

Mr. Clark was a hard worker and a dedicated family man. By his own admission, he was a Sussex County boy through and through. He farmed all of his life, raising chickens and beef cattle in addition to field crops. He also enjoyed a long career in law enforcement and was a successful businessman.

John began his law enforcement career as a patrolman in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. While working there, he met the love of his life, Mary Alice, on her first visit to the beach, Labor Day 1964. They were married a few years later and ultimately made their home on Utica Road near Greenwood.

In 1966, he joined the Delaware State Police, retiring with the rank of Sergeant in 1986. John relished his time on the beat, interacting with the community and building life-long friendships with fellow troopers. He will be remembered for his commonsense approach to policing. His philosophy was grounded in the Golden Rule – simply treating others the way he would wish to be treated. After retiring, Jack served as an officer of the Delaware State Police Credit Union, dealing with delinquent loans, and as a private investigator for Schmittinger & Rodriguez.

Never one to sit idle, John started a family construction business, Clark’s General Contractors, in 1972, specializing in heavy demolition and site work. The company was responsible for clearing properties from Dover AFB to Smyrna for the new Route 1, and numerous other projects throughout lower Delaware. He continued the operation of the family boat storage near Slaughter Beach.

John’s involvement in the community included seven years as a Little League coach. He was an active member of Cedar Neck Church and Calvary United Methodist Church in Milford. He was a life member of the FOP and the Association of Retired Delaware State Police.

Most of all, Mr. Clark will be remembered for talking politics. He formerly served as RD for the 35th District and as a member of the Sussex Republican Committee. He participated in several political campaigns and offered his insight to prospective candidates. His neighbors and friends fondly recall spirited discussions and Jack’s unabashedly conservative positions.

John was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gordon. 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57+ years, Mary Alice Clark; a son, John F. Clark, Jr., and his wife Dr. Lucinda Bunting, of Greenwood; a daughter, Jill C. Long, and her husband, J. Andrew Long, of Bethel; two grandchildren, Blaine Clark and Isabel Long; a sister-in-law, Patricia Clark, of Hockessin.

Services will be Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11 am with a viewing 1 hour before at Crossroad Community Church at 20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown, DE 19947. Burial will be in St. Johnstown Cemetery in Greenwood at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Camp Barnes, Inc, c/o Delaware State Police, PO Box 430, Dover, DE 19903-0430.