Walter Elmo Clark

1940 - 2026

Walter Elmo Clark

May 29, 1940 - January 5, 2026

Fort Worth, Texas - Walter Elmo Clark, 85, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026 in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Clark, as he was known to his friends, or Buddy to his Louisiana family, was born May 29, 1940, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Vallery C. and Katherine Elise Godfroy Clark. He was named after both grandfathers, Walter and St. Elmo. He had many memories and stories to share about growing up in the piney woods on the Clark land off Highway 1 just outside of Natchitoches.

Clark graduated from Natchitoches High School on his 18th birthday in 1958. He still wore his high school ring and still had his graduation watch. He attended Northwestern State University before volunteering for the United States Air Force, where he served eight years, from 1960 to 1968. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed in various locations during his service, including Moron, Spain, followed by Guam and Okinawa where he supported ArcLight sorties to Vietnam by loading B-52s.

Upon returning from the service, he attended Weatherford College and graduated in 1973. He was married to Jeanette James Clark for 51 years, and was a loving, supportive husband and father to their children Jennifer, Brian, and Courtney.

Clark successfully owned and operated Bolles Printing Company in Lake Worth for 20 years, where he served the surrounding community with all of its printing needs. He was a member of the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce.

His faith journey through the Cursillo inspired him to become a Eucharistic Minister at St. Paul's Catholic Church in River Oaks for many years. He was a gifted Minister to the sick and was at ease in talking with others and making them feel seen, heard, and appreciated. He was a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Weatherford.

His hobbies included fishing, growing orchids, plants and flowers in the yard and greenhouse, feeding and watching birds, and spending lots of time with his much-loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Each one was his favorite.

He also loved spending time in Red River, New Mexico, enjoying the coolness and serenity of the mountains, and Galveston, Texas where he was in awe of the vastness of the great seas. He simply enjoyed the outdoors and was content working around the farm or the lake-house.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vallery and Elise Clark; sister-in-law, JoAnn Jager and brother-in-law, Carl Jager; brother-in-law, Richard James; brother-in-law, Paul Boullion; other family members; and his best Bijon friend, Lily.

Clark is survived by his wife, Jeanette James Clark; his sister, Valerie Elise Clark Boullion; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John Michael James and Barbara; and his sister-in-law, Billie James; children, Jennifer Clark Parsley (Matthew), Brian Matthew Clark, and Courtney Clark Saltzgiver (John); grandchildren, Alison Gillard, Maggie Reyes (Jose), Harper Parsley, Coraline Parsley, Elise Saltzgiver (Trevor), Ava Saltzgiver, Ellie Jaymes Saltzgiver, and Cory Saltzgiver (Melinda); great grandchildren, Mateo, Sofia and Athena Reyes, Renley and Rylee Saltzgiver, and Skyler Behm; nieces and nephews, Alicia Boullion, Renee Reyes (Oscar), Michelle James (Chris), Mark James (Jennifer), Debra Jager, Andrea Jager, and Dennis Jager (Karen); great nieces and nephews, Jennifer Lynn LaBove (John Jay), Tyler LaBove (Alyssa), Nicole Abshire (Joey), Kristi Longo, and Ashley Santiago; his beloved dog, Ruby; and many other treasured relatives and friends who brightened his life, including Keith Steele and David Breedlove.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Galbreaith Pickard Hilltop Chapel in Willow Park, Texas from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary following.

Funeral Mass on Wednesday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Weatherford, Texas, with interment following at Memory Gardens of the Valley, Weatherford, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite charities: Center of Hope of East Parker County, The Salvation Army, or the Wounded Warrior Project.