Irvin Blair Clarke, Jr. was born in Waynesboro, Virginia, on June 6, 1931, and died in Richmond on November 5, 2023. He is survived by his sister, Rev. Anne Clarke Davenport, of West Point, Virginia, her husband John Ames Davenport, nieces Mary Blair Davenport and Emily Nelms Davenport Trehubenko, and many friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Ila Gay Fergusen Clarke, his parents, Irvin B. Clarke and Anna Compton Clarke, and his infant sister, Judith Carlton Clarke, all buried in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church cemetery, Augusta County, Virginia. Because of his father's work, his immediate family moved from Waynesboro to Front Royal in 1939, Fredericksburg in 1950, and Richmond in 1951. His ancestors, the Clarke, Grove and Kiblinger families, were active members of Bethlehem Church from its founding in the early 19th century. Many of his ancestors are buried in the church cemetery, among whom include his great – grandparents, W. E. Kiblinger and Fannie Hoak Kiblinger, and his grandparents, Elom Newton Grove and Retta Virginia Grove.
He graduated from High School in Front Royal and, after active service with the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, he entered the University of Richmond in 1954 and graduated with an accounting degree in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in 1958, was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1961, and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was an accountant with several Richmond companies before beginning service with the Overnite Transportation Company in 1970, from which he retired in 1991 as Chief Accountant.
Ila Gay Fergusen and he were married in 1963 and lived in Richmond until her death in 2013. In addition to his professional accounting service, he was an avid historian, sportsman and cattle farmer. He enjoyed recounting with fondness his experiences growing up, military service, marriage, professional work and owing a farm in Nelson County. He maintained a second home in an historic Nelson County log cabin he restored, and was a long-time member of Willow Oaks County Club. He would often remind his friends that "life has been good to me and I hope those now growing up in this great country will have similar fond memories when they reach my age."
A celebration of life service will be held at Bennett Funeral Home Chapel, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23230, at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1148 Ladd Road, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980, at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
He graduated from High School in Front Royal and, after active service with the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, he entered the University of Richmond in 1954 and graduated with an accounting degree in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in 1958, was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1961, and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was an accountant with several Richmond companies before beginning service with the Overnite Transportation Company in 1970, from which he retired in 1991 as Chief Accountant.
Ila Gay Fergusen and he were married in 1963 and lived in Richmond until her death in 2013. In addition to his professional accounting service, he was an avid historian, sportsman and cattle farmer. He enjoyed recounting with fondness his experiences growing up, military service, marriage, professional work and owing a farm in Nelson County. He maintained a second home in an historic Nelson County log cabin he restored, and was a long-time member of Willow Oaks County Club. He would often remind his friends that "life has been good to me and I hope those now growing up in this great country will have similar fond memories when they reach my age."
A celebration of life service will be held at Bennett Funeral Home Chapel, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23230, at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1148 Ladd Road, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980, at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Irvin Blair Clarke, Jr. was born in Waynesboro, Virginia, on June 6, 1931, and died in Richmond on November 5, 2023. He is survived by his sister, Rev. Anne Clarke Davenport, of West Point, Virginia, her husband John Ames Davenport, nieces Mary Blair Davenport and Emily Nelms Davenport Trehubenko, and many friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Ila Gay Fergusen Clarke, his parents, Irvin B. Clarke and Anna Compton Clarke, and his infant sister, Judith Carlton Clarke, all buried in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church cemetery, Augusta County, Virginia. Because of his father's work, his immediate family moved from Waynesboro to Front Royal in 1939, Fredericksburg in 1950, and Richmond in 1951. His ancestors, the Clarke, Grove and Kiblinger families, were active members of Bethlehem Church from its founding in the early 19th century. Many of his ancestors are buried in the church cemetery, among whom include his great – grandparents, W. E. Kiblinger and Fannie Hoak Kiblinger, and his grandparents, Elom Newton Grove and Retta Virginia Grove.
He graduated from High School in Front Royal and, after active service with the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, he entered the University of Richmond in 1954 and graduated with an accounting degree in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in 1958, was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1961, and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was an accountant with several Richmond companies before beginning service with the Overnite Transportation Company in 1970, from which he retired in 1991 as Chief Accountant.
Ila Gay Fergusen and he were married in 1963 and lived in Richmond until her death in 2013. In addition to his professional accounting service, he was an avid historian, sportsman and cattle farmer. He enjoyed recounting with fondness his experiences growing up, military service, marriage, professional work and owing a farm in Nelson County. He maintained a second home in an historic Nelson County log cabin he restored, and was a long-time member of Willow Oaks County Club. He would often remind his friends that "life has been good to me and I hope those now growing up in this great country will have similar fond memories when they reach my age."
A celebration of life service will be held at Bennett Funeral Home Chapel, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23230, at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1148 Ladd Road, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980, at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
He graduated from High School in Front Royal and, after active service with the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, he entered the University of Richmond in 1954 and graduated with an accounting degree in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves in 1958, was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1961, and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was an accountant with several Richmond companies before beginning service with the Overnite Transportation Company in 1970, from which he retired in 1991 as Chief Accountant.
Ila Gay Fergusen and he were married in 1963 and lived in Richmond until her death in 2013. In addition to his professional accounting service, he was an avid historian, sportsman and cattle farmer. He enjoyed recounting with fondness his experiences growing up, military service, marriage, professional work and owing a farm in Nelson County. He maintained a second home in an historic Nelson County log cabin he restored, and was a long-time member of Willow Oaks County Club. He would often remind his friends that "life has been good to me and I hope those now growing up in this great country will have similar fond memories when they reach my age."
A celebration of life service will be held at Bennett Funeral Home Chapel, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23230, at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1148 Ladd Road, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980, at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
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