Merlin Odell Clark

Merlin O. Clark, 94, of Bartlesville, OK, passed away on August 23, 2022.
Born November 24, 1927, in Shattuck, Oklahoma. His parents, A.Ben Clark and Lucile Linder Clark, lived near Darrouzett, Texas, and Shattuck, Oklahoma was where the nearest doctor was located. He and his parents moved to Follet, Texas in 1931 and then to Booker, Texas in 1933. He went through the third grade in Booker. The family moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1937. He completed high school in Amarillo in 1945. Merlin joined the U.S. Navy in June 1945, and was discharged in August, 1946, after World War Il ended.
Merlin attended Amarillo Junior College in 1946-1948, then went to Texas Tech College 1948-1950, where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Merlin learned to fly when he was 15, with money he earned by carrying paper routes. He later got his private license, and still later, a commercial pilot license, an instrument rating, and his glider rating. His greatest thrill in gliding came when he once had a two-hour soaring flight over Tulsa.
On August 27, 1950, he married the love of his life, Joanne Boyd, of Odessa, Texas and that union lasted for 71 years, until the end of her life-January 2022. He first met her in 1948 while standing in line to register at the Dean's office.
The Couple was married at the Methodist Church in Odessa, Texas. Their first home was in Amarillo, where he worked for his father's insurance business. Later they moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where he worked as an Engineer for Westinghouse. After finding a dislike for the Northeast, they moved back to Amarillo. For a year he worked as a Pilot for a construction contractor. Then he got a job with Phillips Petroleum Company, where he worked in different engineering jobs for 29 years, in Borger Texas, and Bartlesville, OK.
After retirement in 1985, Merlin pursued his hobbies of golf and mechanical work. After a couple of years off, he went to work for Service and Technology Corp, (STC), where he worked about 9 years. He learned to weld in the early 90's and enjoyed creation of useful things, and repair mechanical equipment.
Merlin was active in the Oak Park United Methodist Church and served as Chairman of the Church Council there for many years. He was on the Bartlesville Public School Board three years in the early 70's and was a long-time member and served a term as President of the local Chapter of the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers.
Merlin and Joanne had four children, Kimberly Clark-House who proceeded him in death at age 24 of cancer, Brad Clark who also proceeded him in death at age 62 from a Heart Attack. Brad is survived by his three children, Nick, Nathan and Lesley. Merlin is survived by 2 sons: Russell Clark and wife Tami from Guthrie, OK, their four children, Lacey, Brynna, John and Elaina, and their children Asher, Elijah, Joshua, Zaddock, Nolan and Murphy Joanne. Tom Clark and wife Candy and their daughter Taylor.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Memory of Merlin Clark to The Journey Home online at thejourneyhomeok.org or by mail to The Journey Home, 900 NE Washington Blvd Bartlesville, OK 74006