Wilma Gene Clark

COOKEVILLE CHAPEL-Funeral services for Mrs. Wilma Gene Clark, age 89, of the Phifer Mountain community of Putnam County, will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper, Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Cliff Altobelli, her grandson, will officiate. Interment will follow at Clouse Cemetery.

Her family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to service time at the funeral home.

Wilma, a source of joy and love in the lives of all who knew her, departed this world on March 18, 2025, at the Overton County Health & Rehab Center. Born on February 13, 1936, in Cookeville, TN, she was a true embodiment of kindness, laughter, and a vibrant spirit that could light up even the dreariest of days.

Growing up in Cookeville, Wilma’s life was marked by a joyful and bubbly personality, one that naturally drew people to her. Her first job as a teenager at the Winona Motel in Cookeville, along with her time at Big O Donuts, instilled in her a strong work ethic that she carried throughout her life. She later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she dedicated 37 years before returning to her beloved Cookeville in 1980. In Detroit, she played a vital role as the office manager of the family business, Clark & Son Moving Company, touching the lives of colleagues and clients alike with her warmth and dedication.

Wilma had an unwavering love for Jesus Christ and adored children, making her home a sanctuary of love. Her passion for gardening brought beauty to her surroundings, as she took pride in growing apples, blueberries, and grapevines, celebrated for her ability to cultivate stunning Iris flowers in a multitude of colors. A lover of the outdoors and an enthusiast of antiques, she found joy in collecting pieces that told a story, and her heart would sing with the thrum of Gospel music.

She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Howard Hatfield, of Cookeville, whose lives she enriched with her love and support. Wilma's legacy continues through her grandchildren: Cliff (Carly) Altobelli, Kevin (Andrea) Clark, Casey Clark, and Joy (Michael) Hickey, who brought her immeasurable joy. Her spirit will also live on in her great-grandchildren, Vince, Ariana, Brynn, Isabella, Lincoln, Mia, Olivia, and Emily, who were at the core of her heart. She is also survived by her brother, Howard Henry and wife Kathy, and her beloved sisters, Alena Smith and Anna Grace Lloyd. Her family remembers her not just for her accomplishments, but for the love she poured into every relationship and the light she shared with the world.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Ethel Clouse Henry, her devoted husband of 68 years, Boyd Clark, her son David Clark,  her brother, Charles Henry, and her sisters, Walena McCormick and Notie Cecil Watson. Their memories remain a cherished part of her legacy as they welcomed her with open arms into eternal peace.

Don Kendel, Tim Haight, Steve Lloyd, Ariana Altobelli, Vince Altobelli and Carly Altobelli will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions are suggested to be made to Joshua David Ministries, https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=E896S43ek5tfe

Hooper, Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com.