Edric Clarke
Edric Clarke
A Life Well-Lived by a Man Well-Loved
Edric Clarke, 97, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, Minnesota after a short period of illness.
Edric was born May 21, 1921 to Albert and Doris May (Elliott) Clarke in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He attended elementary school in Leeds until he was 10 when he won a scholarship to the Leeds Modern School, built in 1854, which he attended from first form through to the upper sixth. While there, the headmaster fostered his interest in the Boy Scouts, which he had joined at the age of 7 and thus began a lifelong involvement with scouting in England and the United States, lasting for 90 years. In 1936 at the age of 15, he traveled with his troop to Canada for a four week canoe trip in what is now the Mont Treblant Provincial Park, Quebec. He rose to the rank of King Scout, Britain's equivalent of Eagle Scout.
He volunteered for the Royal Air Force on September 4, 1939, and was ultimately enlisted in August 1940. He was a member of 85 Squadron when the Commanding Officer, was Squadron Leader Peter Townsend. While the squadron was stationed at a new wartime base in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, two major things happened. He met a young lady who would later become his wife and he was posted overseas. He served two of his six years in the RAF on the Gold Coast, now Ghana, and as Liaison with the Free French in what is now Central Africa.
Edric was united in marriage to Elsie Ellen Norah Chapman of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England on June 10, 1944, four days after D-Day, and subsequent to his discharge from the Royal Air Force, they made their home in Swinefleet, South Yorkshire. Two years later they emigrated from England for Huttonsville, Canada, with two daughters and a dog. Edric worked as an inspector at a nearby aircraft plant until 1950 when he accepted a position in Ohio with the sponsor for their entry into the United States. They arrived in Cincinnati on Groundhog Day 1950 with three children, eight pieces of luggage and the same dog. In 1989, after two more children, 12 company moves, five states and 16 houses, they moved to Park Rapids having spent the previous 15 years living just outside of Nimrod. While in Nimrod, he opened a Tax & Accounting business in Menahga.
Edric was an avid collector, spending many hours in search of stamps and coins which he meticulously cataloged and preserved in albums. Since it was always about "the thrill of the hunt", he proceeded to amass a multitude of other collections.....anything that tickled his fancy. As he was often quoted, "one is an item, two is a pair, three is a collection"....and the hunt was on: clocks, Codd bottles, record albums, music boxes, candle snuffers, marmalade jars, piggy banks, snow globes and any number of other totally useless things....they all brought him joy. So, too, did his HO model railroad trains and railroad memorabilia, his budgerigars "budgies" (parakeets), as well as listening to classical music and playing the piano. Having taught himself to play the organ, he was church organist in churches in England and the US.
After immigrating to the United States in 1950, Edric resumed his involvement with scouting and held many positions as a non-professional Scouter: Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, District Chairman, and Council Executive Board. He earned the Scouter's Key in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Commissioner Service. He also received the District Award of Merit, Council Scouter of the Year and the Silver Beaver. Until recently he conducted Eagle Scout Courts of Honor in NW Minn.
He was an active member of Lions Club International in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Iowa and Minnesota, where he served the Park Rapids Chapter for 28 years. Edric also served nine years as a Director of the Park Rapids Library Board and was President of a non-profit foundation, that he incorporated, which raised over $2 million to build a new library.
Edric will be remembered as a kind and gentle man of great integrity, with a thirst for knowledge. Always quick with a joke, he used his sense of humor and wit to hide his shyness. He loved to tell stories and make people laugh.
Edric is survived by his children, Patricia (Michael) Dennehey of Arlington Heights, IL, Jacqueline Schulte of Shoreview, MN, Barbara Huff and husband Jack Hanley of Denver, CO, Richard (Kathleen) Clarke of Indianola, IA, Elizabeth (Bob) Talton of Vanceboro, NC; his grandchildren, Tim (Barbara), Darrell (Aleta), Karen, Gretchen (Kris), Michael (John), Kara (Steven), Laura (Darren), Kimberly (Bryan), Angela; his great-grandchildren, Hannah, Sara, Zack, Nick, Sam, Natalie, Nathan, Cash, Crosby, Matthew, Morgan, Simon, Gabi, Gemma, Kirk; and, his beloved dog Prince.
Edric also leaves behind many dear friends in the community who were his "extended family" these past years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Elsie, his loving wife of 65 years; an infant son; granddaughter, Kristine Dennehey; son-in-law, Dr. Daniel Schulte; and brother, Arthur.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 12:00 pm. at Riverside United Methodist Church, Hwy. 71, Park Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Edric's name to Park Rapids Lions Club or the local Scout Troop.