William Underwood "Billy" Clarke

Billy, age 97, passed away peacefully at Nazareth Home Clifton on December 15, 2023. He was born April 30, 1926 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. His father, James H. Clarke, who had emigrated from England at age 21, was the captain of an ocean-going dredge. Billy's mother, Marguerite Underwood Clarke, died when Billy was 4 years old, so Billy and his three older siblings, Henry Clarke, Jane Clarke Price and "Sally" Clarke Cronan were cared for and raised in Louisville by their mother's sister, Nancy, and her husband, Henry O'Shea.
In addition to being a life-long learner as an avid outdoorsman and student of nature, Billy graduated from Male High School and attended classes at the University of Louisville, eventually retiring from there as a laboratory technician in the Medical School. Family was central to Billy's life. He was predeceased by his siblings, but he continued to play a key role as "Uncle Billy" in the lives of his 13 nieces and nephews: Charles J."Mike" Cronan (Mary Anne), Sally Cronan McLaughlin (Charlie) and Mary Cronan Oppel (Jim); Percy Clarke Gwinn (Michael), Dr. James H. Clarke, Jr. (deceased), John U. Clarke (Betty), Baxter B. Clarke (Linda), David C. Clarke (Cindy), LuLu Clarke Stavinoha (Kim), William Terry Clarke (Teresa); Brooke Price Robeson (Dick), Ward Price, and Sally Price Ruppert (John); and, in the lives of his 26 great and his 43 greatgrand nieces and nephews!
In 1974, "Uncle Billy" added for the first time the additional family title of Husband when he married Virginia Cronan Nugent whose husband, Richard J. "Dick" Nugent had died in 1971 at age 47, leaving Virginia with 5 children. Virginia died in 2013, but Billy remained as Step-Father to Richard J. Nugent., Jr., Virginia N. Vail (Bill), Edward B. Nugent (Burva Ann) Edith N. Clark (Michael) and Lewis S. Nugent (Stella), and as Grandaddy to 4 and as Great-Grandaddy to 6 greatgrandchildren.
Billy was blessed by loving family and a number of close friends, but no one was closer than Louise Wall. Billy was doubly blessed by the loving care Louise gave Billy during the last years of his life and to his dying day. The family is also grateful to the medical professionals and staff of Belmont Village, Nazareth Home-Clifton and Hosparus of Louisville for the care they extended to Billy.
Billy's funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, 2119 Payne St., with a private burial at Cave Hill Cemetery. Family will gather in church at 9:15 for anyone wishing to visit beforehand.
Memorials may be made in Billy's name to Hosparus of Louisville or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's, "Where Louisville Goes to Remember".