Joseph Calvitt Clarke Jr.

The life of Joseph Calvitt Clarke Jr. ended on May 6, 2004 at his home after an extended illness. The son of the late Joseph Calvitt Clarke and Helen Caroline Mattson Clarke, he was born in Harrisburg, Pa. on August 9, 1920, and was reared in Richmond, Va., which he called his hometown. After practicing law there for 30, he has appointed a U.S. District Court Judge in Norfolk and lived at his Virginia Beach home for 39 years. Judge Clarke married the late Mary Jane Cromer in 1943 and Betty Ann Holladay in 1986. He is survived by his wife, Betty Ann; a son, Joseph Calvitt Clarke III, his wife, Mariko and their daughter, Tiffany of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Martha Tiffany Clarke Ring, her sons, Sean and Kevin and her daughter, Katie of Concord, N.H.; and two stepsons, Marc, his wife, Janice of Greensboro, N.C. and Dana, his wife, Jill and their daughter, Nikki of Island Lake, Ill. Judge Clarke's parents founded Christian Children's Fund, now the largest child care agency in existence. His sister, Jeanne Clarke Wood, by whom he is also survived, founded and is President and International Director of Children, Inc. in Richmond, Va. He graduated from The University of Virginia with BS and JD degrees. He was a partner in the law firm of Bowles, Anderson, Boyd, Clarke, and Herold; and later, Sands, Anderson, Marks, and Clarke. He was an Honorary Consul for The Republic of Bolivia, a Chairman of the Richmond Republican Committee and a candidate for Congress in 1954. He was a former board member of Christian Children's Fund, Children, Inc., and the Norfolk Forum. He was a member of the Richmond Bar Association, the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association, the Virginia and the Federal Bar Associations, the American Judicature Society, and Delta Theta Phi. He also belonged to the Commonwealth Club and the Pyramid Club. In Richmond, he was an Elder of Second Presbyterian Church and in Virginia Beach he became a member of First Presbyterian Church, an association he treasured. The favorite chapter in his life was boating and his membership in The Virginia Yacht Club. There will be a graveside service at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond at 11 a.m. Monday, May 10. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach at 4 p.m. following the graveside service. Memorial donations may be made to Children, Inc., 1000 Westover Road, Richmond, Va. 23220 or a favorite charity. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel is handling arrangements.